Capt. John Strader

Captain Strader is the Patrol Division Commander for the Southside Division of Tucson and has the privilege to lead 140 of Tucson’s finest officers, detectives, sergeants, professional staff, pilots, and mechanics.   Captain Strader is a 19 year veteran of the Tucson Police Department and has held the positions of patrol officer, street level narcotics officer, detective, patrol sergeant, administrative sergeant, patrol lieutenant, training lieutenant, the Executive Officer for the Chief, and now patrol captain. John has worked a variety of assignments within the department to include Hostage Crisis Unit, Urban Search Team, Financial Crimes Unit, Gang Unit, and Adult Sexual Assault Unit. John has also served as the President of the Tucson Police Officers Association.

John came to the Tucson Police Department shortly after graduating from New Mexico State University with Bachelors of Science in Biology and Microbiology. John continued his educational pursuits while with the Department, first obtaining his Masters of Education in Counseling from Northern Arizona University, then his Doctor of Management from the University of Phoenix, and lastly his Juris Doctor from Arizona Summit Law School. John has also attended executive education training with the Foundations in Public Sector Leadership and the Southwest Leadership Program through University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. After being admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 2015 and the United States Federal Bar in 2017, John has taken on the role of legal trainer with the Department and as a volunteer attorney with the Arizona Attorney General's Office, Wills for Heroes, Disabled Veteran’s Assistance and the Modest Means Project.