'Cops everywhere' help to ensure gem shows are relatively crime-free

Ever need a policeman and couldn't find one?

That's not a problem if you attend the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase.

"There are cops everywhere," says Capt. Sharon Allen, patrol commander of Tucson Police Department's West Division. "It's big bucks."

About 150 of the 860 officers with the Tucson Police Department are working off-duty shifts during the show, said Loretta Carano, special duty coordinator for the department.

Also filling in are off-duty officers from Oro Valley, Marana and the Pima County Sheriff's Department, private security companies and college and university campus police.

In fact, there are more law enforcement and security officers patrolling the city now than at any other time of the year.

Many officers take their two-week vacations to work the show.

They can be seen monitoring hotel rooms and elevators, walking hallways and parking lots, and checking exits and entrances of meeting areas for suspicious activity. Most work 12-hour shifts.

In addition, organizers of more than two-dozen shows have planted security cameras throughout the gem and mineral show areas. They've hired scores of armed off-duty officers to protect exhibitors, dealers and customers, some of whom cut high-stakes deals.

The many law enforcement agencies share intelligence on criminal operatives. They piece together details on people who carry phony business licenses, watch trends in car thefts and monitor pawn-shop sales.

But officials agreed that, in recent years, reported crimes have remained relatively low in the geographic areas that make up the gem show. The 25 private and public shows are in 30 locations, spread from I-10 on the west to South Pantano Road on the east, East Ajo Way on the south and East River Road on the north.

More than 46,000 buyers, exhibitors and show owners visit the gem show, according to a study conducted by the Tucson Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Last year, police responded to 37 incidents in the gem show areas, says Allen, of the Police Department. "That's not bad considering the values of the gems and minerals at the shows," she said.

There were eight incidents of pickpocketing and nine cases of theft of minerals worth up to $5,000, Allen said of last year's show. The remaining cases were disorderly conduct reports and phone threats tied in with disgruntled gem and mineral buyers who had too much to drink.

Police officials say that consumers should practice the same safety measures that most gem dealers automatically employ. They should avoid leaving goods in automobile trunks. They should place high-value specimens in hotel vaults. They should be watchful at automatic teller machines and in banks. And they should avoid handling large amounts of cash in public.

Some gem and mineral dealers bring their own security. Most dealers with vast fortunes send a person in advance to make security arrangements. They carry extra travel insurance.

Armored Transportation & VIP Executive Protection Inc. in Tucson sends its staff to check out potential ambush points on the route from the airport to the hotel where its clients will stay.

Some companies contract with Brink's Inc. to send convoys of armored cars from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport to the show site in Tucson, said Tom Johnson, a branch manager for Brink's in Tucson. The company has a gem and mineral show division in New York City.

But some dealers who carry small quantities of high value gems breeze in and out of Tucson without any arrangements. They maintain their secrecy and safety by not hiring security guards and not taking out extra insurance on the goods.

"The more people they tell, the more attention they draw to themselves," says Bob Jones, chairman of the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. "They are very quiet, very quiet. Some make deals behind dumpsters. They feel safer that way."

* Contact Jeannine Relly at 573-4213 or by e-mail at jrelly@azstarnet.com.

Gem show profile

Opal, obsidian seller mines a rich vein of humor

Jeffry Scott / Staff
Comic relief: When you buy carved opal or obsidian from Larry Castle of Austin, Texas, you might get stand-up comedy, too.

By Phil VIllarreal
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Spend a few minutes at Larry Castle's table at the Congress Street Expo at Tucson Electric Park, and you'll realize that Castle is not your ordinary rock dealer.

"You forgot this yesterday," Castle shouted out of the blue, picking a person out of the crowd. The man had accidentally left a dollar in change after a sale the day before.

The shocked man walked over to reclaim his dollar.

"You actually left a $100 bill," Castle said jokingly, "but I figured I'd have to give you something."

The man joked with Castle for a few minutes before going on his way.

When asked about the display of honesty, Castle shrugged it off as an everyday thing. The scene shows that Castle isn't in the business just for profit.

Castle, 44, enjoys more than just the sales aspect of his job. The Austin, Texas, resident has been showing in Tucson since 1988. He deals in carved opal, obsidian and comedy.

Castle does the latter just for fun. He's taped an irreverent list to his desk that details his take on the cosmic powers of gemstones and minerals.

At first, Castle suggests, tongue in cheek, that the list comes from comprehensive research. When pressed, he admits otherwise: "I just made it up."

Here is a selection of Castle's findings on the mystical powers of minerals and gemstones:

Amethyst: Disinhibits the nonsimultaneous facilitated oxygenation of the neocortex and genitals.

Arsenic: Not good for the fish tank.

Azurite: Invokes St. Dymphna, protector of the westbound passing lanes of Interstate 80.

Beryl: Found to thwart kidney snatchers at the New Orleans airport.

Calcite: Enables one to act out feelings too small to be supported by drug addiction.

Celestite: Answers the doorbell on lunar flybys.

Danburite: May cue you in when certain endocrine glands begin to mess with your planetary cycles.

Hematite: Shoots down Hitler's flying saucers.

Jadeite: Serves to channel only the least-damaged of past lives.

Labradorite: Jams unwanted Joan Rivers.

Lapis lazuli: Represents that part of divinity genuinely disinterested in you.

Malachite: Helps you make friends with global telemarketing.

Mercury: Supports the recovered memory of Zeta Reticuli diplomatic code droning and buzzing over a series of late- night telephone calls mysteriously placed to your Uncle Phil in February to March of 1974.

Nephrite: Will metabolize guaranteed drug-free urine.

Obsidian: Grabs your ankle from under the bed.

Opal: Possesses an electron configuration astonishing to other silicon oxides.

Peridot: Fluoresces under crypto brain wave sequence from the invisible orbiting satellites.

Silver: Even better than an opium suppository during a monsoonal demon attack.

Tremolite: Mimics the stuff they've been putting in your food to make you paranoid after reading this.

* Contact Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or prv@azstarnet.com

For visitors

If you tire of all the bustle, take a break at Reid Park

Reid Park

If the University of Arizona is the heart of Tucson, then Reid Park has to be the city's lungs.

Located in the center of the city, Reid Park allows Tucsonans to rest easy and take a breath of relief from everyday troubles.

It's the place Tucsonans go for a jog, to take in a baseball game, visit the zoo or play a round of golf.

The park provides a grass-and-tree-filled environment, perfect for a midday walk. There's also a duck pond.

Reid Park Zoo, at East 22nd Street and Lake Shore Lane, features more than 500 animals from around the world.

The zoo is open daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, 75 cents for children 5-14 and free for children 4 and under. For more information, call 791-4022.

Several baseball fields sit just east of Reid Park, including the home of USA Baseball and the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies, Hi Corbett Field.

Adjacent to the park is Randolph Golf Course, 600 S. Alvernon Way. The park includes two courses: Randolph North and Dell Urich. It costs $37 to play 18 holes and $9 to rent a cart. To inquire about tee times, call 791-4161.

Directly to the north sits El Con Mall, which boasts Tucson's newest and largest theater, Century El Con 20.

Old Pueblo Grille

60 N. Alvernon Way

326-6000

This hip midtown eatery boasts alluring Old Pueblo decor and Southwestern cuisine. It offers tasty meat, fish and pasta entrees, as well as a solid salad selection.

Even the desserts offer a Southwestern flair. Ever heard of jalapeño ice cream? This is the place to try it.

To get to the Old Pueblo Grille, take Broadway to Alvernon Way. The restaurant is on the northeast corner of the intersection.

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

* Contact Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or prv@azstarnet.com.

Gem show brief

City, DPS ticketing
illegally parked cars

The city's Transportation Department has stepped up its ticketing of illegally parked automobiles on streets near gem and mineral shows, said Chris Leighton, program coordinator for the city's ParkWise program.

Leighton said the enforcement measure is to prevent accidents that result from motorists parking illegally on narrow roads.

He said that in past years bicyclists have been injured when motorists and passengers have opened their doors into oncoming traffic.

In addition, said Leighton, the department is enforcing the no-parking zones because neighborhood residents near gem shows have complained in the past that illegally parked cars have blocked their driveways and prevented mail deliveries and trash pick-ups.

Since Saturday, the heaviest concentration of illegal parking tickets has concentrated around the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers Inc. show, near West Grant Road and I-10, said Leighton.

The department has placed about 120 tickets on cars in no-parking zones on Forbes Boulevard, west of the frontage road.

The tickets carry a $100 fine; parking in handicapped spaces carries a $500 fine, he said. Automobiles parked in fire zones will be towed.

The state Department of Public Safety is monitoring the frontage road near I-10 and is having cars towed that are illegally parked, Leighton said.

Frontage road hot spots are between West Congress and West 22nd streets, he said.

- Jeannine Relly

Where to park

Here's a listing of the public shows, coupled with parking tips for each.

Congress Street Expo at
Tucson Electric Park

Tucson Electric Park,
2500 E. Ajo Way

Ample parking is available in the Tucson Electric Park parking lot.

Globe-X Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry show

Days Inn, 222 S. Freeway Ave.

The best spots to park are the Days Inn parking lot, or the Tucson Convention Center for $4.

International Gem & Jewelry Show/Intergem Tucson 2001

700 block of West Congress Street, west of Freeway Avenue

Parking along Congress Street in front of the tent is the best way to go.

Rapa River

292 S. Freeway Ave.

Parking is available, but it costs $5 in the show lot.

Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show

Four sites:
* Ramada Inn University,
1601 N. Oracle Road
* Best Western Executive Inn, 333 W. Drachman St.
* InnSuites Hotel,
475 N. Granada Ave.
* Mineral & Fossil Marketplace, 1333 N. Oracle Road

Look for spots on the sides of streets if you can't find them in the hotel lots.

American Indian Exposition

Flamingo Travelodge,
1300 N. Stone Ave.

The Travelodge parking lot provides some parking. During the weekends, you can park at Pima Community College's Downtown Campus on Stone north of Speedway.

La Quinta Group

La Quinta Inn,
665 N. Freeway Ave.

If the La Quinta parking lot is full, you'll have to scavenge.

Atrium Productions

Four Points Hotel by Sheraton, 350 S. Freeway Ave.

Chances are the Sheraton lot will be full, so it's best to park at the TCC.

Trade Shows International Tucson Gem & Jewelry Show

Gem Pavillion,
450 S. Freeway Ave.

Officials say there will be ample parking in the lot behind the show scene.

Dell Productions

Tucson Scottish Rite,
160 S. Scott Ave.

If you can't find a spot on the side of the street, there's a lot south of the building that charges $2.50.

Beaucoup Congé

335 E. Fort Lowell Road

There are a few spots in front of the store, but your best bet is to park along North Geronimo Ave.

Crystal Myths Inc.-Best Bead Show

Kino Veterans Memorial Community Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way

Parking is ample at the site of the show.

The Whole Bead Show

The Windmill Inn of Tucson, 4250 N. Campbell Ave.

There is plenty of parking in St. Philip's Plaza.

Rio Grande Catalog in Motion Jewelry Equipment Showcase

Hilton Tucson East,
7600 E. Broadway

The hotel parking lot is the best place to park for this show.

47th Annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

Tucson Convention Center,
260 S. Church Ave., 322-5773

Phil Villarreal