Police

Chief Riley has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience.

Kara M. Riley has been a police officer since February 1992. Prior to being a police officer, she worked in the corrections field for five years, both at adult and juvenile jails. From 1993 to 2004, she was a police officer and sergeant with the Tucson Airport Authority. In 2004, she started her career with the Oro Valley Police Department. 

Prior to becoming Chief, she held the rank of Commander. Her responsibilities included the Field Services Division for patrol, motors, K-9, SWAT, Negotiations, and the Community Action Team. She was also responsible for the Support Services Division, which is responsible for criminal investigations, community resources, public safety telecommunicators, fleet, IT, records unit and task force operations. In the past, she served as the Chief’s Executive Officer. The Executive Officer holds the responsibilities of professional development and training, the office of professional standards, and the public information officer.

Kara serves on the Board of Directors for Pima County Wireless Integrated Network, Arizona Association Chiefs of Police, President of the Oro Valley Optimist Club, Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Women’s Group, and Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. She is an active member of the FBI National Academy Associates Arizona Chapter, member of the International Association Chiefs of Police, and a member of the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Managers.

Kara holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in Sociology and a master’s degree in Education. In September 2015, she graduated from class 261 at the FBI National Academy and in 2012, Northwestern University Police Staff, and Command School. 

Kara had the fortunate opportunity to grow up overseas in Taiwan, Abu Dhabi, and Sudan, Africa. Her father was a retired professor from the University of Arizona in the field of environmental studies. She is a mother to a University of Arizona graduate and aunt to six nieces and nephews. She enjoys fishing, watching any sport the University of Arizona is playing, CrossFit, and spending time with her husband, Joseph Shelley.

Inside the OVPD

The Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) is composed of two divisions, five bureaus and several units that work together to meet the needs of our community. For more information on each division, the bureaus and units they oversee, click on the links below.

Oro Valley Police Department is an equal opportunity employer.
Contact Police Recruitment Specialist Jennifer Kleinberg at jkleinberg@orovalleyaz.gov or 520-229-4962 for more information on the below employment opportunities.

JOIN OVPD

• Adopt-A-Business
• Citizen Academy
• Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP)
• Dark House
• Fingerprinting
• Active Shooter Response 
• Dispose-A-Med
• Community Outreach
• Public Safety Cadets
• Off-Duty Officers
• Neighborhood Watch
• OV Safe Return(PDF, 963KB)
• National Night Out 2024

View all Police Media Releases.

View all Oro Valley CrimeFighter Newsletters

While scams keep evolving, there are some general tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of a scam. These 10 tips are directly from the Federal Trade Commission:

1. Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request — whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.  
2. Do online searches. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
3. Don’t believe your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.
4. Don’t pay upfront for a promise. Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear.
5. Consider how you pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don’t. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it’s nearly impossible to get your money back. That’s also true for reloadable cards (like MoneyPak or Reloadit) and gift cards (like iTunes or Google Play). Government offices and honest companies won’t require you to use these payment methods.
6. Talk to someone. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert — or just tell a friend.
7. Hang up on robocalls. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don’t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls.
8. Be skeptical about free trial offers. Some companies use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy. And always review your monthly statements for charges you don’t recognize.
9. Don’t deposit a check and wire money back. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. If a check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for repaying the bank.
10. Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at ftc.gov/scams. Get the latest tips and advice about scams sent right to your inbox.

We also ask that you call (520) 229-4900 to report any scams to the Oro Valley Police Department. Click the links below for some more information on specific types of scams and how to avoid becoming a victim.

• Prescription Drug Disposal Locator
• DEA Fentanyl Awareness Information
• Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) - Free support for parents of loved ones who struggle with substance use disorder
• Substance Use Prevention Education - Parent/Family resources for drug education, Fentanyl prevention, and protecting children from online drug dealers
• Arizona Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry Search