The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Laura Conover's failure as a County Attorney has not only impacted Pima County. It is now having a direct effect on the safety of those living in Tucson. Tim Steller wrote about a revolving door for dangerous felons carrying weapons in Pima County, and more recently wrote that Tucson residents are frightened and endangered by drug users in the metropolitan area.
Because the County Attorney refuses to effectively prosecute drug possession cases, City Councilwoman Lee is proposing an ordinance to allow the city prosecutor to go after drug users who are harassing people in the city. Although Councilwoman Lee is acting in good faith and out of desperation, the ordinance would be a weak response to the problem and would not deter criminals.
Councilwoman Lee, the Tucson Police Department, and even the mayor have expressed frustration with the lack of prosecution and accountability of the drug offenders in the city. The mayor recently lamented that an offender in the city had been arrested 10 times and "nothing happened." One can only imagine the frustration of officers who know of 10 arrests of one individual in the city, with no real action taken by those responsible for prosecution. Why bother making the arrest?
The concerns of the City were validated by a public records request to the Tucson Police Department and the Pima County Attorney's Office. The records show that in 2025, thousands of possession cases were refused or dismissed by the County Attorney. Of those charged, only 22 went to a drug treatment alternative to prison program. These statistics clearly show that the County Attorney has no plan or interest in addressing the growing problem of drug offenders in the city.
If most of the drug arrests in the city go without prosecution, the offenders will be emboldened, and the problem will get worse. Illegal drug possession goes with shoplifting, assault, and a variety of other offenses.
No one is saying that these drug users all need to go to prison, but the Pima County Attorney needs to take action with effective felony prosecution to make sure that those defendants who are using dangerous drugs and committing other crimes are held accountable. If that means prison, so be it.
Although Mayor Romero is a political ally of Laura Conover, she, the city council, the Fraternal Order of Police and the people of Tucson need to speak out and pressure the County Attorney to take action on this growing problem.
The city doesn't need a weak and ineffective ordinance. It needs a County Attorney who does their job by holding criminals accountable. Laura Conover's lack of involvement must stop. People are frightened and in danger.
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