TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is apologizing for his department's failure to notify the South Tucson community of a military training exercise conducted within the 1.2-square-mile city limits Tuesday night.
Nanos says Tuesday night's training, conducted in an abandoned building by Pima Regional SWAT, was in collaboration with the Department of Defense. He says the Pima Regional S.W.A.T. team facilitated the training but did not participate.
Several viewers called and emailed KGUN 9 last night, concerned about the activity, some of which appeared to be "smoke bombs" near their homes.
In an interview with KGUN 9's South Tucson reporter Reyna Preciado, Nanos apologized to the community, saying there was a miscommunication in the chain of command, and that it would never happen again.
"We dropped the ball on this," Nanos said. "I don't know what to say other than I'm embarrassed."
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Nanos says there have been similar trainings conducted in South Tucson in the past, but not alongside the DOD.
For now, Nanos says his department is looking into how this miscommunication occurred, though there may not be a formal investigation.
COMING UP ON KGUN 9: Team coverage from Reyna Preciado and Jacqueline Aguilar
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Reyna Preciado is a reporter for KGUN 9, she joined the KGUN 9 team in July of 2022 after graduating Arizona State University. Share your story ideas with Reyna by emailing reyna.preciado@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, or Twitter.
