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Tucson Police Officers Association releases statement after officer
attack

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kvoa.com/content/tncms/asset s/v3/editorial/c/f1/cf1ea416-1dc7-44de-95be-58424e220bc7/681d21e92a16b.im age.png

The Tucson Police Officers Association has released the following
statement Statement after an officer was attacked at a gas station in
Tucson.

"On the morning of May 6, 2025, a uniformed Tucson Police officer was
seriously injured while protecting our community.

The suspect, 38-year-old Richard Rene Lopez, has numerous contacts with
police. He violently assaulted both a store employee and a Tucson Police officer before resisting arrest. That same officer, a 9-year veteran of
our department, was transported to the hospital for treatment and
remains under medical care following the attack by Lopez.

We are deeply disappointed and seriously concerned that the bond was set
at just $200,000, an amount that does not reflect the severity of this
violent assault or the clear and ongoing threat Richard Lopez poses to
the public.

Prosecutors rightly recognized this danger and requested no bond, but regrettably, the rest of our criminal justice system did not uphold that request. Releasing violent, repeat offenders back into the community
sends a dangerous message not only to our community members but also to
the officers who risk their lives every day to protect it.

Richard Lopez is not an anomaly—he represents the type of repeat
offender our officers deal with every day. This is the reality of
policing in Tucson: a revolving door of individuals with extensive
criminal histories who continue to victimize our community. Shoplifting,
once viewed as a minor offense, has become far too normalized, and in
this case, it escalated to a serious assault that left an officer with long-term vision complications. This kind of ongoing criminal behavior
impacts everyone, from big box retailers to small local businesses.

No store is immune to the ripple effects of unchecked theft and
violence. The police cannot bear this burden alone. When any part of the justice system fails to hold offenders accountable, the entire community
feels the effects.

The Tucson Police Officers Association stands firmly behind our injured
officer and every member of our department. We also extend our sincere
thanks to the brave community members who stepped in to help during this dangerous confrontation. Just as we support our officers, we stand with
our community and the local businesses that are impacted by rising crime
and violence.

Accountability must mean something. Tucson deserves better."

https://www.kvoa.com/news/crime/tucson-police-officers-association-releas es-statement-after-officer-attack/article_917ef13f-78b1-4783-8b28-c79b4c8 3046b.html

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