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Phoenix native Tamara Mulembo stepped into the role shortly after new Pima County Attorney Laura Conover took office in January.

The plan is for Mulembo to wrap up her duties by the end of the year, said Joe Watson, communications director for the County Attorney’s Office.

Veteran city and county employee Martha Durkin, an attorney with experience in both civil and criminal law, will be filling in while Conover searches for a new chief deputy, Watson said.

“Martha will serve as interim chief deputy while Tamara finishes up certain projects that she’s been working on,� Watson said, adding that Durkin has been running the office’s human resources, finance and IT departments.

Mulembo attended law school at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, working in the Pima County Public Defender’s Office after graduation. She came to the County Attorney’s Office after working as in-house counsel for State Farm and at the federal Public Defender’s Office.

Mulembo told the Star earlier this year she was taking an in-depth look at the office’s specialty and diversion programs from the perspective of an outsider who isn’t married to the idea of doing things the old way.

She also focused her attention on systemic inequities, saying some of the data she had seen indicated inequities based on race, gender and income within the programs, which she is looking to redress.

Mulembo spearheaded the upcoming Unity in the Community Halloween Festival and Movie Night. The Oct. 30 event is a partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Pillars and Bridges, a nonprofit that helps build relationships between community members and law enforcement.

“We’re all happy and proud to start launching the events,� Watson said.