By IRENE HSIAO
ihsiao@tucsoncitizen.com
The Tucson Police Department will add three management positions in January to fight a high property crime rate, plan for growth and prepare for the hiring of 300 officers.
A property crimes captain will be added, freeing another captain to focus solely on crimes against people, Assistant Chief Roberto Villaseñor said.
The Tucson metro area had the highest property crime rate in the nation last year, according to the FBI.
Changes were outlined in a memorandum from Chief Richard Miranda.
A second new captain will focus on logistics, addressing growth and capital projects, including starting up a regional radio communication system.
One lieutenant will be added and another will be reassigned from the Administrative Resources Section. The lieutenants will work as force commanders overseeing daily field operations.
Those positions and the additional officers are funded in this year’s city budget. The department will seek a fourth additional management position, deputy chief, in July.