Chief Monica Prieto leads the Tucson Police Department, the largest law enforcement agency in Southern Arizona. She is a seasoned law enforcement executive with more than 26 years of progressive experience in public safety and is committed to advancing modern policing through innovation, accountability, and the professional development of personnel.
A graduate of the Sunnyside Unified School District, Chief Prieto attended Desert View High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. She joined the Tucson Police Department in 1999 and has served in a wide range of operational and investigative assignments, including Patrol Services, Community Response Team, Street Narcotics Unit, the Office of Professional Standards (formerly Internal Affairs), and the Central Investigations Division.
After 13 years of service – including seven years as a detective – she was promoted to sergeant and continued to advance through the ranks in leadership roles across the department. In February 2026, she was appointed Chief of Police.
Chief Prieto has completed executive education with the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Center for Public Safety, School of Police Staff and Command.