Sheriff stresses recruitment, Pathways reentry gains and detention upgrades in FY26 briefing

Sheriff Axland briefed the Coconino County Board of Supervisors on May 7, asking the board to prioritize personnel pay and retention while highlighting recent program successes in reentry and in‑jail treatment that the office says reduced recidivism.

Key points: The sheriff said the Pathways to Community reentry program — a multiagency effort — reduced the county’s recidivism rate from around 40% to approximately 10% over the program’s life, and said the county is seeking state funding to expand the approach. He outlined an intake and medical expansion project at the jail that would separate intake and release flows, add medical beds (increasing from six to 24), exam rooms and a clinical recreation yard to better serve sicker inmates.

Staffing and recruitment: Axland told supervisors recruitment and retention are the biggest operational challenges, with local competition (notably Flagstaff Police Department) raising compensation in ways the sheriff said the county must account for. County management recommended a compensation focus (5% CPI and a jail-district pay plan increment) rather than adding multiple new patrol FTEs, arguing the county should first commit to retaining and filling existing roles.

Public safety workload: The sheriff described rising mental‑health and violent‑crime calls and a 7‑to‑9% rise in suicide‑related contacts; he said detention medical capacity and expanded screening are part of the response. He also reviewed volunteer program highlights — search-and-rescue volunteers logging about 14,000 hours annually, a cold-case volunteer unit, and inmate education tablets that host e‑learning and GED prep.

Budget and grants: The sheriff emphasized reliance on grant funds — Pathways currently funded through opioid settlement monies — and said county advocacy in the legislature aims to secure multiyear state support. On equipment, he asked supervisors to consider motor‑pool repairs and vehicle replacement scheduling; county management proposed a centralized motor‑pool approach to address fleet needs across departments.

What supervisors asked: Board members pressed for more detail on trends (mental‑health contacts, violent crime), the detention medical expansion timeline and the feasibility of recruiting and retaining deputies at competitive pay. Management said it would continue to work with the sheriff to prioritize compensation and motor‑pool funding in the FY26 plan.

Ending: Supervisors thanked the sheriff and his staff and asked for follow‑up materials on recruitment targets, detention upgrades and the Pathways funding outlook.