Steven Duane Rodgers, age 34, has been identified as the pedestrian killed in this morning’s collision with a Tucson Police car responding to a report of a fight.
This morning, at approximately 1:49 a.m., the Tucson Police Department received a 911 call regarding a fight involving a weapon. Officer Chris Fenoglio was responding to the scene to assist. Officer Fenoglio was traveling eastbound on Speedway Boulevard when he struck Mr. Rodgers just west of Santa Rosa Avenue. Officer Fenoglio requested medical assistance for Mr. Rogers as well as additional patrol units.
The arriving patrol units pronounced Mr. Rogers dead at the scene.
Detectives responded to investigate. Detectives determined that Officer Fenoglio was traveling eastbound on Speedway Boulevard in the median lane with his emergency lights and siren activated. Mr. Rogers, who was wearing dark clothing, crossed Speedway Boulevard from south to north and was not in a marked crosswalk when he was struck.
Officer Fenoglio is a 13-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department and a member of the Service Dog Unit.
As is standard procedure in all officer involved traffic fatalities, the Traffic Investigation Unit will conduct the criminal investigation into the incident. Additionally, the Office of Internal Affairs will conduct a separate and parallel administrative investigation to examine the actions of Officer Fenoglio.
This type of administrative review is routine when an officer is involved in a traffic collision resulting in a fatality. The review is utilized to determine whether department policies were followed and if current training, equipment, supervision, and policies are adequate and appropriate.