News :: 2007
News 2007
Help Officer Tom Rizzi and Santa Cop
Nov 7/07: Officer Tom Rizzi, Unsung Hero award winner last year is starting his toy drive for children for the Holiday season. You can become a member of his Unsung Hero team by bringing an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl. He will have collection boxes stationed at the car show. These toys will be carried in the trunks of the patrol cars to be given to children in difficult circumstances during the holiday season.
Last year, Tom and his wife purchased hundreds of dollars worth of gifts that he gave to children who were victims of neglect or family violence. These are children who are often left out and under "Santa's Radar" because of situations beyond their control. Tom has expanded the program to all of the patrol divisions and has coordinators who will stock police cars with toys for children. The officer will be able to help make a child's situation a little brighter right then and there.
So be an unsung hero with Tom — bring an unwrapped toy to the car show!
Rollover Simulation machine to be at the show
Nov 2/07: Arizona Department of Public Safety's Rollover Simulation machine will be at the
car show! Wonder what happens when a car rolls over? You can come to the show and see DPS
Officer Quentin Mehr put on a demonstration of what a vehicle looks like as it rolls over at
25 miles per hour and what happens to the occupants (click photo to enlarge).
Just another great opportunity to understand the dynamics of vehicles and the importance of
wearing a seat belt!
Casa Grande Police Department mourns death of Sgt. Tate Lynch
Oct 26/07: CASA GRANDE, AZ — The City of Casa Grande Police Department continues to mourn the
untimely death of Sgt. Tate Lynch. Lynch was injured during a SWAT team training exercise yesterday (Thursday) afternoon in
Florence. Full story and career highlights here
Police driving simulator to be at the show!
Oct 29/07: Built by L3 Communications, 2 virtual reality simulators are operated out of a fully
self-contained 42' trailer, which is transported around the state of Arizona to various Law
Enforcement Agencies. This mobile unit will allow for those agencies to get the desired
training needed to stay in compliance with AZ POST training requirements. This mobile driver
training simulator is operated by Officer Matt Griffis, whom is assigned to AZ POST from the
City of Tucson Police Department.
The PatrolSim III+™ Driver Training Simulator offers law enforcement agencies a high fidelity, interactive training experience in real time that saves lives and department budgets. The three channel immersive driving environment combines the look and feel of a real squad car with the most advanced technology on the market. Officers can select from a variety of visual environments, training scenarios and special effects including high-speed chases and extreme weather conditions. PatrolSim III+™ also can network with multiple simulators to create a multi-officer scenario, complete with dispatcher.
The simulator is made available by Arizona POST! You must be 16 or older and a licensed driver to participate.
Raffle Prize for Kids
Oct 29/07: The Tucson Police Foundation thanks Toni Findysz of Ace Hardware, 6959 E. 22nd for their
donation of a 1957 Chevy Police Car, as a raffle prize for kids (click photo to enlarge).
If you are looking for a pinewood car kit, they have them as well!
Foreign Car and Cobra categories Added!
Oct 19/07: For those car entrants with Foreign Cars or Cobras, just write the word 'Cobra' in the Kit Car section or 'Foreign' in the stock category. This will automatically enter you into these two new categories!
Gold Sponsors Announced
Oct 12/07: The Tucson Police Foundation is proud to announce
Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union,
the Tucson Police FOP Lodge 1, the Tucson Police Officers Association and
Creative Communications as Gold Sponsors of the Cops and Rodders Car Show.
Protect Your Car from Theft!
The Tucson Police Department's Auto Theft Detail and Auto Theft Strike Force will be at the
car show to provide VIN etchings for people who want to bring their cars to the show. This is
an anti-theft and identification tool that is going to be provided free of charge by the
Tucson Police Department for visitors of the car show. Anyone can bring their car in and have
their windows etched with their VIN number
making it virtually impossible to change the VIN
on the car, allowing police officers to more accurately check the car to determine if it has
been stolen. A special area will be set up so that spectators and visitors can bring their
car to have it hardened against auto theft! The detectives will be there to offer advice and
tips on how to protect your car from theft.
Title Sponsor Announced
Sep 21/07: The Tucson Police Foundation is proud to announce
Metro Auto Center as
the Title Sponsor of the Cops and Rodders Car Show.