The Tucson Police Department is mourning the death of one of its own, Lead Police Officer Adam R. Buckner, who was involved in a vehicle collision Sunday night in midtown Tucson.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, on the night of March 31, 2024, just before 10:00 p.m., officers responded to a call for service for the report of an adult male breaking windows at a nearby occupied business located near E. Speedway Blvd. and N. Campbell Ave. The male suspect fled on foot and additional officers were requested to assist. One of the responding officers in route to the call, Officer Buckner, was traveling northbound on Campbell Ave. with his emergency lights and siren activated.
As Officer Buckner was going through the intersection on a green light at 6th St., a white sedan failed to yield and a collision occurred. The force of the collision sent the officer’s patrol vehicle into a traffic signal pole on the northeast corner of the intersection. Witnesses at the scene came to the officer’s aid until additional officers arrived and continued life-saving efforts. The officer sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by the Tucson Fire Department to Banner University Medical Center (BUMC) where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. The driver and only occupant of the white sedan was transported to BUMC with non-life-threatening injuries.
The 31-year-old Buckner joined the Tucson Police Department in November of 2021 and had started his law enforcement career with the New Orleans Police Department in 2017. He was recently highlighted as the Midtown Division’s Officer of the Month and was assigned to squad nine as their lead police officer. Officer Buckner is survived by wife, mother, sister and three brothers.
Final arrangements are underway and will be shared with the community in the coming days. Officer Buckner is the 9th Tucson Police Officer to die in the line of duty.
If you would like to contribute to Officer Buckner’s family, donations can be made through the Erik Hite Foundation here.