A man sits on the curb at Santa Rita Park in Tucson.
The Tucson Police Department has responded to criticism following the release of video footage of an officer calling a homeless encampment an “infestation.”
Santa Rita Park, a known gathering place for the unsheltered, was scheduled to close for cleaning on Sept. 25.
Police were present in the park near 22nd Street and Park Avenue the night before it was scheduled to close. As rumors of the sweep circulated on social media that evening, the comment was recorded in an Instagram live video made by a member of Community on Wheels, a mutual aid group that often serves people living in the area.
“They’re not allowed to be in the park after hours,” the officer said in the video. “It's gotten to the point where it’s like an infestation, so what we’re doing is we’re trying to clear the park, clean it up, and then people can enjoy it.”
In response, TPD said they were “concerned” about the comments.
“We are aware of the comments made by our officer and are looking into the matter. We recognize the serious challenges our community is facing, including the fentanyl crisis and the number of unsheltered individuals in Tucson. These are public health crises, and the terminology used takes away from the compassion and understanding that such critical issues deserve. While we acknowledge the frustration many in our community are feeling about these issues, we remain committed to addressing these concerns with respect and dignity for all members of our community,” the department said in a statement.
Liz Casey is a social worker and an active member of aid groups. She called the comment “disturbing.”
“Referring to any group of humans as an infestation is highly disturbing. Language like that is not only cruel but dangerous and will lead to the normalization of violence against unhoused folks. This is especially disturbing coming from a police department that publicly claims that they build trust and offer services to the unhoused community,” she said.
TPD did not confirm the name of the officer who made the comments, or whether they were considering any disciplinary action.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.