TPD, downtown businesses gather for safety training | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Tucson Police held its first large-scale safety training session Wednesday with more than a dozen current and future downtown businesses at the Westside Police Service Center.

Crystal Moore, who is the CEO and President of the Downtown Tucson Partnership, said the recent mass shooting in Tucson gave the previously scheduled meeting added meaning. Tucson Police Sgt. William Ornelas told reporters this is the first safety training session of this size between the department and downtown businesses.

The meeting drew businesses like Obon Sushi Bar Ramen and manager Josie Hart.

“It kind of just seemed like a perfect opportunity to set that bridge between us and the TPD,” Hart told News 4 Tucson.

Inside the meeting, TPD personnel walked attendees through several safety topics—including liquor-law inspections, what to do in an active-killer situation and crowd control. Crowds become especially relevant come early morning, when last weekend’s shooting occurred.

TPD said one tool that works elsewhere in dispersing crowds is designating an area for ride shares. Tucson Police and the Downtown Tucson Partnership said downtown will be piloting a ride share zone in the months ahead.

Another pilot program on the way is closing Congress Street to traffic during certain times.

Tucson Police stressed a preventative approach to safety.

“I think proactively we really want to get that one-on-one relationship with our merchants and have them well-trained as far as our procedures, what we do, how they help us respond because it helps us work together better,” TPD Sgt. Ornelas said.

Robert Mathis, who is the general manager at Chela’s Latin Cuisine as well as Lava, which has yet to open, explained why business leaders wanted the meeting.

“It’s a little tiring to be reactive to everything, so the idea is to be a little more proactive about our approaching of things that are going on downtown, the crowds we’re dealing with, the interactions we have with others,” Mathis said.

Mathis told News 4 Tucson that proactive approach includes expanding a patron identifying system. The system will allow businesses to notify others if a customer has already been to their place on a given night and caused problems.

Hart said she’s open to making safety sessions like Wednesday night’s reoccuring.

“So far, really informative, really eye-opening, and it honestly even raises the question whether this should be something that regularly happens,” she said. “Especially with so many restaurants changing management, I’ve seen it all of downtown, so this was really a great intro for us.”

News 4 Tucson will continue monitoring downtown safety as changes start rolling out in the months ahead.