Chief Kasmar is a native of Tucson, Arizona. He came to the Tucson Police Department in 2000, shortly after graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He has also attended executive training with Harvard Senior Executives in State and Local Government, the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police, Arizona Chiefs of Police, FBINA Leadership Potential Course, and the Southwest Leadership Program through the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. He is certified as a Hostage Negotiator, a Motor Officer, an AZPOST General Instructor, and an Ethics Post Basic Instructor.Chief Kasmar oversees the Department’s four bureaus: Patrol Services, Investigative Services, Administrative Services, and Special Services and Innovation. Prior to being appointed Chief in 2021, he served as Interim Director of the City’s Public Safety Communications Department, where he led efforts to stabilize the department, reducing attrition and increasing staffing while moving from a co-located but separate police and fire 911 call center to a consolidated 911 call center.
As a captain in the Tucson Police Department Chief Kasmar served as Deputy Chief, as Chief of Staff, and as the Eastside Patrol Division Commander. As a lieutenant, he served as an Office of Internal Affairs (now Office of Professional Standards) Commander, and as a Westside Patrol Division Commander. As a sergeant and officer, he served in the Street Crime Interdiction Unit, Operations Division South Community Response Team, Operations Division Downtown, Operations Division Midtown, Bicycle Patrol, Operations Division South Solo Motor, and Hostage Crisis Team.
Chief Kasmar has presented at various law enforcement conferences, including the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE). His awards include the Police Executive Research Forum Gary P. Hayes Award and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. Chief Kasmar is a member of the Arizona Associations of Chiefs of Police (AACOP), Major City Chiefs Association (MCCA), Police Executive research Forum (PERF), and the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF).
As the father two boys, Chief Kasmar is passionate about engaging youth in the community. He serves on the board of Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson and has for the past 6 years. As Chief of Police, he also attends weekly community events, meetings, and speaking engagements.
