Tucson Police Officers Association Press Release Re: Richard Rene Lopez Arrested
Statement from the Tucson Police Officers Association
On the morning of May 6, 2025, uniformed Tucson Police Officer Ryan Berra was seriously injured while protecting our community.
The suspect, 38-year-old Richard Rene Lopez, has numerous contacts with police. He violently assaulted both a store employee and a Tucson Police officer before resisting arrest. That same officer, a 9-year veteran of our department, was transported to the hospital for treatment and remains under medical care following the attack by Lopez.
We are profoundly disappointed and seriously concerned that the bond was set at just $200,000, an amount that does not reflect the severity of this violent assault or the clear and ongoing threat Richard Lopez poses to the public.
Prosecutors rightly recognized this danger and requested no bond, but regrettably, the rest of our criminal justice system did not uphold that request. Releasing violent, repeat offenders back into the community sends a dangerous message not only to our community members but also to the officers who risk their lives every day to protect it.
Richard Lopez is not an anomaly—he represents the type of repeat offender our officers deal with daily. This is the reality of policing in Tucson: a revolving door of individuals with extensive criminal histories who continue to victimize our community. Shoplifting, once viewed as a minor offense, has become far too normalized. In this case, it escalated to a serious assault that left an officer with long-term vision complications. This kind of ongoing criminal behavior impacts everyone, from big box retailers to small local businesses. No store is immune to the ripple effects of unchecked theft and violence. The police cannot bear this burden alone. The entire community feels the effects when any part of the justice system fails to hold offenders accountable.
The Tucson Police Officers Association stands firmly behind our injured officer and every member of our department. We also extend our sincere thanks to the brave community members who stepped in to help during this dangerous confrontation. Just as we support our officers, we stand with our community and the local businesses that are impacted by rising crime and violence.
Accountability must mean something. Tucson deserves better.