The Tucson Police Department for the first time Monday acknowledged several officers are being investigated for their possible involvement into a long-running prostitution ring.
However, Chief Roberto Villaseñor would not comment further at a news conference about anything related to the officers and the internal affairs investigation being conducted.
He detailed how the years-long investigation into several illegal massage parlors began and developed. The department also released 247 pages of police reports related to the investigation. Villaseñor said making the heavily redacted reports available will not compromise the investigation.
In April, the city manager’s office released a statement acknowledging that several officers were on paid administrative leave and were being investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. But until Monday, police officials had been silent on the issue, refusing to disclose the nature of the investigation.
Within minutes of the press conference’s start, Villaseñor announced he wouldn’t be discussing the officers’ involvement any further. However, he later mentioned his “disgust” at the suspected involvement of public safety employees, adding they’ll face stiffer penalties than others if the allegations are found to be true.
“I am rather disgusted that we have public safety employees who are potentially involved with this and it goes against what we stand for,” he said during the 15-minute news conference. “That tarnishes the badge and reputation for all those who represent the agency who go in and do a good job — day in, day out — and that infuriates me.”
His statements that followed focused solely on the investigation into what police are referring to as a “continuing criminal enterprise.”
In December 2011, the department received a tip on 88-CRIME regarding possible prostitution and illegal massage services.
“The problem was that a tip was sent to a liquor licensing unit because back in 2008, due to budgetary constraints and lack of staffing, our vice unit was eliminated,” Villaseñor said. “The licensing unit was unable to establish sufficient information to base further investigation, but they continued — as time permitted — to try and gather information on the operation.”
About a year later, a second tip was received, this time with a specific address.
The Police Department’s liquor-licensing unit forwarded the tip to a street crimes unit, which Villaseñor says was unable to corroborate the activity or find evidence for chargeable offenses.
Four months later, police received another tip with new names and addresses involved. The liquor licensing unit advised one of the suspects they were out of compliance in terms of licensing for the massage parlor.
Police noticed similar activity at a separate location but Villaseñor said “there was no way to know” there was a connection with other illegal massage parlors.
Police were unable to connect the dots in terms of the illegal enterprise until the summer 2013, Villaseñor told reporters, noting the investigation intensified as they developed a confidential informant working inside one of illegal massage parlors.
A year later, a formal investigation into the massage parlors was launched by the special investigations division organized crime unit. In January, police discovered the possible involvement of city employees and launched a separate investigation into those employees.
By the end of the month, police raided several properties used by the prostitution ring and a house belonging to the couple suspected of running the operation, known as “By Spanish.” They seized a house, property, cash, vehicles and other items.
Confidential informants and Clarissa Lopez, one of the alleged owners, told an undercover officer about the operation and her expectations of employees: a $40 “cut” for each sexual service performed, according to a search warrant affidavit. Police documents state that up 15 female employees worked for the businesses, with as many as six or seven typically working each day.
Villaseñor would not confirm the number of officers or if other city employees are being investigated but said the officers have been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. It’s unclear how long the officers have been on leave.
In April, the investigation of the police officers was turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, to avoid a conflict of interest. A criminal investigation, as well as the DPS investigation, should be done in the next few weeks, the chief predicted.
“Those investigations are in their final closing states,” Villaseñor said.
A Tucson couple, Chris and Annemarie Rechlin, filed a claim against the city last week stating police disregarded repeated complaints about a suspected brothel in their neighborhood for months.
Annemarie Rechlin claims she was assaulted by a man who allegedly ran the business after the pair took pictures of cars parked in front of one of the brothels. The Rechlins are seeking $2 million in damages.
The Rechlins say they were among several neighbors who complained about the house on North Stone Avenue near Tucson Mall. The Police Department acknowledges it has responded to at least 12 calls to the property over three years ending in February.
The Rechlins contend police were slow to respond because officers were among the brothel’s clients. TPD has declined requests from the Arizona Daily Star to respond to their allegations.
The police department has shared information regarding the criminal enterprise, including possible customers, with the City Prosecutor’s Office and the Pima County Attorney’s Office. The information is being reviewed by both offices for potential prosecution, TPD has stated.
