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In November, elections took center stage, and we found many reasons to be thankful. The People’s Office won some big cases in court, shared holiday safety tips for your family and friends, and participated in a neighborhood clean-up event. Your November 2024 Community Newsletter has arrived.
November started with a much-anticipated election on the local, state, and national levels. And now that we have four more years and know the political landscape, we are preparing to continue working with Arizona’s 57th Legislature on reforms that include fixing our cash bail detention system, securing a desperately needed “red flag” law to address gun violence, and modernizing our public records laws.
Meanwhile, we continue to work through a heavy trial load, with lots of victories and accountability, including cases remaining from the COVID-19 backlog. Getting through the docket will require dedication and innovation, and County Attorney Laura Conover is working with Superior Court to explore ways to get through this much-needed heavy lifting without breaking and burning out workers in the justice system.
When Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes announced in late November that they were prepared to resume capital punishment in Arizona, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover stood by her policy of not adding Pima County names to the 111 people awaiting execution in the state.
Conover, whose opposition to capital punishment was part of the criminal justice reform platform she has twice campaigned and won elections on, issued a response to the announcement from Phoenix that executions could resume before the end of the year.
The Town of Marana lost a leader and pioneer of the community this month with the passing of Mayor Ed Honea. The son of Marana’s co-founder, Mayor Honea served with passion and commitment as Marana grew from a tiny farming community in 1977 to a major municipality and economic driver in Pima County. The People’s Office joined the chorus of praise for Mr. Honea after his passing on Nov. 22.
Here at the Legal Services Building, we enjoy brightening an environment that can get pretty heavy with trappings of holidays throughout the year. This month, we made the ground floor lobby a place where folks here could publicly express their gratitude for the work and helpful spirit of cohorts with a Thanksgiving “Thankful Tree” that PCAO staff took full advantage of in the spirit of this season.
We were all grateful to receive a heartfelt message of appreciation from a community member following the kind of difficult trial we see too often here at PCAO. The message was that victims in the case suffered in silence for many years before feeling safe to come forward to talk about the abuse they endured as children. Their grandmother, the author of the message, expressed her appreciation for the work done by Special Victims Bureau prosecutor Lacee Collins, and her supervisor, Bureau Chief Brad Roach, in the prosecution of their abuser. Lacee’s star continues to rise here at The People’s Office and victories like this are particularly meaningful to Brad in his new role as chief of the SVB.
In February 2024, we hired a new crop of young attorneys and this month they arrived fresh off graduation from law school and passage of the Arizona Bar Exam. With cleared character and fitness to serve, they bring us closer to our capacity of 61 prosecutors at PCAO. That’s a far cry from the 88 attorneys we need on board to restore our pre-COVID funding level – and we’re working on reaching that goal in pursuit of public safety in Pima County.
Laura was among a cadre of current community leaders who participated in the 30th Pima College Access Network’s Teen Town Hall, delivering the opening remarks to 100 students from throughout the county. It was an opportunity to share our thoughts on mental health, substance misuse, education inequity, and other topics, while also learning about the issues and concerns that matter most to the future leaders.
(Photo Credit: Armand Saavedra)
While November kicks off the winter holiday season, it starts with a day of gratitude and respect for the men and women who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Veteran’s Day is the first national day of thanks that is followed by another classic American holiday when we gather with family and friends for the Thanksgiving feast and festivities.
On the subject of winter holidays, County Attorney Conover was joined by PCAO’s Chief of Detectives Fabian Pacheco for the most recent episode of “The People’s Office Podcast,” which provided lots of safety tips for the holiday shopping season. Laura and Fabian provide helpful information on staying safe when out shopping in stores, online shopping, and home security whether it’s about packages or being away for Christmas. Click here to watch!
There are many true gems who go above and beyond in serving the people through Pima County government, and County Administration makes a point of honoring some of them four times each year. In November, we were proud to have two of our star staffers at the Pima County Attorney’s Office among those so honored. Read more about our “GEMS” – Deputy County Attorney Mark Hotchkiss and Legal Secretary Daniel Karbon. Congratulations and a heartfelt “Thank you!” to both.
We took pride in telling you earlier this year about how our Administrative Specialist Genaro Venalonzo modernized our victim notification system to include automated text notices of upcoming dates for legal steps in their cases. Well, we aren’t the only ones gushing with pride for Genaro’s achievement. His alma mater – the University of Arizona – is also singing his praises.
Dr. Brandy Perkl, Associate Professor in the UA’s College of Applied Sciences and Technology (CAST) nominated Genaro for CAST’s “Take a Bow” campaign, which led Charles Walker, the department’s Coordinator for Diversity and Inclusion, to recognize Genaro for his work at PCAO.
Genaro,
On behalf of the Respect for Human Dignity, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity & Inclusion (READI) Committee, you were chosen among your professors, peers, and colleagues for your efforts to improve community engagement throughout CAST. Your commitment to increasing communication, community engagement, and representation at CAST is a beacon of light for many of our diverse staff, faculty, and students. We see and appreciate your great work in moving the needle toward inclusive excellence. Please accept this digital certificate as a thank-you for your exceptional contributions to our CAST community. You embody CAST’s values and mission to educate and cultivate career-ready and future-focused leaders.
Take a Bow.
One of our favorite ways to support the communities we serve is to get outreach staff and volunteers out with lots of large trash bags, grabbers and the desire to make neighborhoods look better and be safer. We did this with partners from the City of Tucson and made a difference in the Groves Lincoln Park Neighborhood on the city’s southeast side on Friday, Nov. 15.
We recruit legal researchers, litigators, and professional staff who use their unique talents to move our Office forward. You’re invited to apply to work for a progressive prosecuting agency that values accountability, public service, and outcome-driven thinking.
We offer excellent work-life balance, great incentives, and a generous benefits package, including:
All open PCAO positions APPLY HERE
There are a variety of positions to apply for at PCAO
We produced our latest episode of The People’s Office Podcast, focusing on Holiday Safety!
Laura had an insightful chat with PCAO Chief of Detectives Fabian Pacheco about how to keep your family and home safe over the holiday season.
Here’s a look at some of the links to social media and podcast messages we’ve shared throughout the year.
All Podcast episodes are available here:
https://thepeoplesofficepodcast.podbean.com/
Social Media Posts:
Mayor Ed Honea
Podcast Preview
The PCAO Community Newsletter is published and distributed monthly.
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