Tucson police confirmed Monday that its officers and city of Tucson employees may have been implicated in a years-long prostitution probe.
In a news conference, Tucson police Chief Roberto Villaseñor declined to discuss further details or answer questions about police officers' involvement, but later said that he's "disgusted that public safety employees are suspected to be involved with this."
No officers have been suspended, but put on paid leave, the agency said.
The city handed over a formal investigation of those officers to the Arizona Department of Public Safety several weeks ago and that investigation is ongoing.
Allegations of misconduct stem from a January police raid that targeted six Tucson homes and businesses tied to a suspected prostitution ring that grossed up to $250,000 a year, a search warrant obtained by the Arizona Daily Star shows.
A Tucson couple that filed a $2 million claim against the police department state officers disregarded repeated complaints about a suspected brothel in their neighborhood, leading to the wife being assaulted by a man who ran the business.
Police documents identify 15 suspected female employees of the business, called “By Spanish,” and says that six to seven women typically worked per day, each seeing an average of three to four clients.
After a three-year investigation, the Tucson Police Department raided all six properties in one day and seized a house, $15,000 in cash, two vehicles and hundreds of items ranging from a stripper pole and women’s underwear to cell phones and computers.
Villaseñor said the lack of resources led to the inability to conduct a speedier investigation. He added that the prostitution ring under investigation seems to be organized criminal activity, not human trafficking.
Tucson police hasn't decided if anyone would be charged in this probe.
Check back for updates.
