Cochise County sheriff outlines national role, fatal crash probe and local public-safety priorities

Sheriff Mark Danos of Cochise County told listeners on KWCD’s First Watch that he was appointed this week to the Homeland Security Advisory Council and will begin serving next week, and he described several local public‑safety matters including an active fatal crash investigation and efforts to sustain a county mental‑health first‑responder program.

The appointment, Danos said, was supported by his colleagues: “The 4 sheriff's associations — national, western, Southwest border, and major county — came together to discuss issues in public safety,” and “3,081 sheriffs actually voted to support me for that position,” he said on air. Danos said he will carry the “public safety optics” of local law enforcement to Washington.

Danos described a multiagency traffic fatality he said his office is investigating on State Route 90. “What I’m being told is this motorcycle was going the wrong way on 90, going northbound in the southbound lane when he encountered this teenager going south,” Danos said. The sheriff said one victim was a 17‑year‑old woman who had recently completed her junior year and worked at Popeye’s, and that Border Patrol had reported the motorcyclist at “excessive speed” before the crash. He said the collision and ensuing fire were “horrific” and that deputies and the accident team were investigating; Danos urged anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office. (Preliminary details were reported on air by the sheriff; Danos said he had not yet read a completed factual report.)

The sheriff also described several outreach and partnership items raised on the program: his attendance at the National Sheriffs’ Association meeting in Fort Lauderdale; a change‑of‑command ceremony at Fort Huachuca where Colonel Rob Barnhill retired and Colonel David Taylor assumed command; and a widely shared ceremonial event in Florida in which a boy identified as “DJ” was sworn in by more than 1,300 sheriffs as part of a morale‑building recognition.

Locally, Danos said the sheriff’s office has a mental‑health first‑responder pilot — described on air as a “care team” that does early intervention and is not a law‑enforcement response. He said the program currently has “less than a year on it” and is supported in part by the Legacy Foundation; Danos said he and local leaders asked Governor Katie Hobbs’ team to help secure ongoing funding and that they are exploring state grant options to continue the service.

Danos used the broadcast to issue public‑safety reminders: a recent bear cub sighting and drought‑related animal movement, closures at Fort Huachuca canyons for fire hazard reasons, caution about fireworks as the July 4 period approaches, and a reminder about amateur radio volunteers who assist communications during major responses. “Be aware when you’re hiking,” he said about the bear sighting, and urged situational awareness to protect people and wildlife.

He also clarified legal points about public roadways and impaired driving. “What is the legal description of a roadway? It’s from fence line to fence line, right‑of‑way to right‑of‑way,” Danos said, and warned that state law can be applied when a person operates a vehicle while impaired “anywhere in the state,” including off‑pavement areas within a public right‑of‑way. He emphasized that reckless driving and impairment can lead to criminal charges even when the vehicle is not on the paved surface.

The sheriff’s comments combined local incident reporting, outreach and partnership updates, program funding priorities and prevention messaging. Danos said his national advisory appointment begins next week and that his office will continue to post updates on social media and respond to inquiries at the sheriff’s office.