One Voice


 

Public safety should always be top priority!

 
 

AZCOPS congratulates La Paz County Sheriff Don Lowery (center) during a meeting of the AZCOPS Board of Directors at the La Paz County Sheriff's Department in early 2009. At left are AZCOPS President Larry Lopez and at right, Joe Escorza, president of La Paz County Deputies Association.

 

 

AZCOPS President Larry Lopez (left) and Director of Government Relations Luis Ebratt (right) with U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (CD1). Ms. Kirkpatrick was endorsed by AZCOPS in 2008. 

 
 
U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (center) received the AZCOPS endorsement and was re-elected Nov. 4, 2008.
 

See the list of AZCOPS-backed candidates who were successful in the General Election of 2008. 

The Employee Free Choice Act is currently being considered by Congress. This Act will allow our national affiliate, the Communication Workers of America, to more effectively organize private sector workers. Without a strong private sector labor movement, there can be no strong public sector and public safety labor movement. 

That is why AZCOPS is asking you to please support the Employee Free Choice Act. You can do this easily by filling out an on-line petition. In the drop-down menu, select local number 7077. Ask other AZCOPS members to complete the form as well.

Learn more about the Free Choice Act

 

 

Political Action

Tucson POA invites AZCOPS members to join campaign for Proposition 200


(Posted: Sept. 24, 2009) 
 

 

AZCOPS members in and around the Tucson area are encouraged to get involved in a political campaign to boost police staffing and improve response times for the Tucson Fire Department.

If approved by Tucson voters in November, Proposition 200 would require the City of Tucson to provide 2.4 sworn police officers per 1,000 residents and adopt National Fire Protection Association 1710 standards by 2014.

Tucson Police Officers Association President Larry A. Lopez, who also serves as President of AZCOPS, said changing the City Charter to set minimum staffing levels will take some of the politics out of the decision-making process. For years, Lopez and TPOA have pleaded with elected officials to put more officers on the street. In the past year, their requests have been heightened as crime rates have increased and more officers have been injured on the job.

"This isn't just a public safety issue -- it's also an officer safety issue," Lopez said. "And no one understands that better than law enforcement officers and their families.

"That's why we are asking every AZCOPS member who is eligible to vote in Tucson to not only vote yes on Prop 200, but also to get involved in this campaign," he said.

AZCOPS members can help by participating in a Neighborhood Walk for Prop 200 from 8 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, Oct. 3. Walkers will meet at 8 a.m. at Purple Heart Park in Rita Ranch.

Members can also make a financial contribution to the campaign by going to the website, www.keeptucsonsafe.com.

 
More about Proposition 200...

Proposition 200 requires the City of Tucson to provide 2.4 sworn police officers per 1,000 residents and adopt National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standards by 2014.

Lopez says the Tucson Police Department is currently staffed at 1.9 officers per 1,000 residents. The national average for cities the size of Tucson is 2.8 officers per 1,000 residents. 

Adopting NFPA standards would mean the addition of two new fire stations for Tucson, which would allow the department to respond to most calls in less than six minutes.

Brian Delfs, vice president of the Tucson Firefighters Association, said the fire department currently meets the 6-minute response time only 46 percent of the time.

"Those standards are critical because permanent brain damage begins after only four minutes without oxygen. A fire can double in size every two minutes. Minutes matter," Delfs said.