MISSION STATEMENT

The Tucson Police Officers Association believes that Police Officers have the same Constitutional rights and due process as other citizens of the United States and will scrupulously work to protect those rights.

The Association believes that the TPOA are professionals and will strive to upgrade standards, wages, benefits and working conditions to reflect this professional status.

The Association will promote the interests of the TPOA in the U.S. Congress, Arizona State Legislature, Tucson City Council, Tucson Police Department, Arizona Police Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST), and the Tucson Civil Service Commission.

History

Allow us to tell you a little about our Association, where we have been and where we are today. In 1993 three officers came together and discussed the problems going on within the police department and the City of Tucson. They uncovered two major problems. First, the Tucson Police Department was (and still is) the second largest agency in Arizona, but we were 17th from the top in pay. Second, the Department was practicing inappropriate methods of investigating, recommending and administering discipline, which in turn, caused severe morale problems throughout the organization. The TPOA’s “Founding Fathers”, Richard Anemone, Mike Gurr, and Roger Carrillo decided to take a trip to Phoenix to visit the president of PLEA (Phoenix Law Enforcement Association) to get advice on how to start a police association. They received the information and began running with it.

During this time, our leadership made professional, autonomous relationships with the AFL-CIO and the CWA. In doing so, it allowed the TPOA to gain strength in numbers. They educated us in the political arena, giving us the ability to begin to fight the battles we knew were looming in the future. In 1995, with our membership under 200, we began the campaign against the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #1. This endeavor was not easy to say the least. We were confronted with barrages of insults, intimidation, and threats, not just from the City Manager or the Chief of Police (at the time), but from fellow co-workers who viewed us as an enemy. They threw everything at us, but we never allowed it to get the best of us. In April of 1996 the de-certifying election took place and by a narrow margin the TPOA came out the Victor, however, the battles continued.

Three years later the FOP began their own de-certification campaign while encouraging serious rhetoric and propaganda from its membership. They invited the National FOP President to stand with them on Election Day, but they did not prevail. Again, we were successful and to this day we haven’t looked back.

Despite all of this, the TPOA worked with both the CWA and the Peoria Police Officers Association and created the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) in 1997. From just two associations, AZCOPS has now grown to 80 affiliates and over 6000 members statewide. AZCOPS is the fastest growing police union in the Nation.

Since 1996, the TPOA has been successful in increasing our wages over 52%, and by doing so, this has allowed our Department to stay competitive with the Phoenix Valley cities. We have negotiated with the City of Tucson over the years to maintain our competitiveness and we have worked together in good faith bargaining to add to our benefits/retirement packages.

With fearless leaders like our “Founding Fathers” and many others who participated as Executive Board members and Representatives over the years, their perseverance, dedication, and strong beliefs, trail blazed our Association to where it is today.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

President:
Larry Lopez

Vice President:
Sandy Sellers

Treasurer:
Rick Radinsky

Executive Secretary:
Michelle Pickrom

TRUSTEES

Ops. Div. South:
Brian Berg

Ops. Div. West:
Scott Glass

Ops. Div. Midtown:
Terrence Hickey

Ops. Div. East:
Jim Parks

Ops. Div. Downtown:
Wendy Adkisson

CID:
Doug Musick