Courtesy of TPD

Tucson's police chief Richard Miranda will step down to take the Assistant City Manager position.

Miranda worked his way up with the department since he joined the force in 1975.

A Fox 11 News investigation showed he received the highest salary in the city in 2006. But his base salary is less than City Manager Mike Hein.

Now, he’s poised to become the highest ranking Hispanic in city government. Miranda said, “Well, earlier this week City Manager Mike Hein contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in Assistant City Manager.”

Miranda accepted the position and will start working July 1^st of this year. In his new role, Miranda will help oversee both the fire and police departments.

“When this opportunity came about, it felt really good that I was going to be able to continue working for the City of Tucson,” Miranda said.

City officials say they’ve been in talks with him about taking this position for several months, but the news still took many by surprise. T PD Officer Scott Cuffe said, “I’ve seen him treat officers fairly. I haven’t seen any big scandals or those things, and I think we’re losing an excellent chief.”

Tucson resident Genia Pope said, “Of course my mouth is falling open, and, ‘Why is that?’ Because I think he’s doing a wonderful job.”

Since Miranda became chief ten years ago, he says crime has taken a downward turn.

Miranda said, “Last year our violent crime went down where other cities were experiencing rises in violent crime.” Now, he’ll take his 33 years of police experience to City Hall where Mayor Bob Walkup says he couldn’t be happier about the addition.

Mayor Bob Walkup, R-Tucson, said, “He’ll have no problems at all giving us a new shot in the arm.”

The man who sounds happiest is Miranda himself. “It’s been an honor to serve this community in the capacity I’ve had as chief of police, but to have this opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Tucson is even a greater honor.”

Tucson Deputy Police Chief Kermit Miller will serve on an interim basis until the city names a replacement.  Mayor Bob Walkup says the process of finding a new chief could take up to one year. Miranda says it would be unusual for the department to hire people from outside of TPD.