PCSD Patrols Tackle Westside Neighborhood Challenges
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - For years, residents in a Pima County neighborhood have faced issues such as illegal shooting, littering, trespassing, and off-roading on state trust land that lies behind their homes. Now, local authorities have taken steps to address these concerns and ensure the safety of the community.
Paulette Green, a resident of Eagle Point Estate, shared her fears about the ongoing problem. “The guns are scary. They can go through your walls, they go through your windows,” she said. The Greens moved into their home in 2017 and have since experienced bullets being fired in the area behind their neighborhood. Jim Green added, “This happens 10, 11, 12, 1, 2 in the morning. And some of it’s rapid fire.”
In addition to the gunfire, the couple has also dealt with noise and dust from ATVs that roam the land. Their home is situated among 3,600 acres of Arizona state trust land, which has been closed to the public due to increasing concerns from residents like the Greens.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos emphasized the urgency of the situation. “When you’re having rounds, bullets coming into your dining room area, that’s no, we need to do something now,” he said. To tackle the issue, the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) has deployed a special enforcement task force to the area. Nanos reported that since the task force began patrolling a week and a half ago, several violators have been caught.
“We’ve made some arrests, and we’ve made some confiscations of the razors or ATVs, and confiscated some weapons as well,” Nanos said. Jim Green expressed his satisfaction with the patrols, noting that he hasn’t heard gunshots in the last week and a half. However, he remains concerned about what might happen once the patrols end.
“I think it could come to an end as long as they keep up enforcement. I still think they need to put the wire and the bollards all the way from the end of Vahalla here all the way down to Valencia so they can’t get through,” Jim Green said. Nanos mentioned that he plans to continue patrols regularly until a more permanent solution is found, such as designating a specific recreational area within the 3,600 acres where people can safely enjoy outdoor activities.
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