Tucson Today: Police Leadership Shift, Guthrie Case Update, Teens Take On Trades

New chief takes helm at Tucson Police Department

Deputy Chief Monica Prieto has been elevated to chief of the Tucson Police Department, stepping into the role as longtime chief Chad Kasmar departs for a new position with Pima County. Prieto, a 25-year department veteran, now oversees five major bureaus and more than a thousand employees as she guides the agency through a period of intense public scrutiny and continued population growth.

City officials highlight her experience in patrol, violent-crime investigations and internal reform work as signs that the department will keep pushing on community policing and officer wellness. The leadership change also tightens coordination between the city and county as Kasmar moves into a senior administrative job at the county level.

Nancy Guthrie search: glove DNA yields no match

Investigators in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie say DNA from a glove found near her Catalina Foothills home has not produced a match in national databases. Testing confirmed the sample does not belong to Guthrie or her close contacts, and there was no hit when it was compared through law enforcement systems.

With that avenue stalled, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is now turning to commercial genealogical databases and genetic genealogy techniques in hopes of identifying a possible suspect. Detectives emphasize that Guthrie’s relatives are not considered suspects and that leads from thousands of community tips are still being checked. Authorities continue to ask residents in the Foothills and greater Tucson area to review any surveillance footage from late January and early February.

Southern Arizona teens showcase construction skills

More than 140 high school students from across Southern Arizona are converging in Tucson this week to compete in the SkillsUSA Region 6 construction competition. Hosted at Catalina Magnet High School with support from the Arizona Builders Alliance and education partners, the event tests students in trades like carpentry, masonry, plumbing, cabinetmaking and electrical work.

Industry professionals are serving as judges and mentors, turning the competition into a direct pipeline to apprenticeships, technical programs and entry-level jobs. Organizers say the strong turnout reflects both the state’s construction boom and growing interest among teens in high-wage careers that do not require a four-year degree.

What it means for Tucson

Tucson’s public safety landscape is shifting as a new chief takes over while one of the region’s most closely watched investigations leans on cutting-edge DNA tools. At the same time, local schools and contractors are investing heavily in the next generation of skilled workers, a move that could shape the city’s growth for years to come.

Sources

https://tpdrecruiting.tucsonaz.gov/about/office-chief-police
https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Police/About-the-Tucson-Police-Department/Chief-of-Police-Monica-Prieto
https://biztucson.com/tucson-police-chief-chad-kasmar-to-be-pima-county-deputy-administrator
https://www.kold.com/2026/02/17/update-with-no-match-glove-dna-nancy-guthrie-case-investigators-turn-commercial-genealogical-databases
https://news.azpm.org/p/azpmnews/2026/2/11/228411-man-detained-in-nancy-guthrie-case-says-he-was-released-after-questioning
https://www.constructionowners.com/news/southern-az-teens-compete-in-construction-skills-event
https://www.tucsonspotlight.org/skillsusa-competition