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Coconino supervisors accept $1 million legislative grant to bolster regional drug enforcement
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved acceptance of a $1 million grant from the state legislature, directing funds to regional drug enforcement, canine units, radios and partner agencies including Flagstaff Police and NAU Police.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved acceptance of a $1 million legislative grant aimed at enhancing regional law-enforcement capacity to address drug-related crimes, including fentanyl trafficking.
Sheriff Brett Axlund told the board the legislature awarded roughly $17 million across Arizona to sheriffs’ offices and that Coconino’s share is about $1 million. “Item number 20 is a grama that we have that has been accepted out of the legislature for an amount of $1,000,000,” he said.
Why it matters: County leaders said the funding targets cross-jurisdictional crime that affects public safety in multiple towns and on tribal borders. The sheriff and county attorney’s office will use the funds for a mix of investigative, prosecutorial, equipment and interagency costs, rather than for general operations.
Details and allocations: In presenting the grant the sheriff gave a breakdown of how the county would distribute the $1 million: $200,000 to the Flagstaff Police Department to support its Metro undercover drug unit; $75,000 to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office for prosecuting drug offenses; $350,000 to the Sheriff’s Office to fund a regional canine unit (a second canine unit); $184,500 for multi-band portable and mobile radios to improve interagency communications; $98,500 to the Williams Police Department to outfit a vehicle targeting reported train burglaries; and $92,000 to Page Police Department for canine-related equipment and vehicle outfitting.
Board discussion focused briefly on the scope and limits of the grant funding, and the county manager and sheriff answered supervisors’ questions about whether the work could involve immigration enforcement. Supervisors stressed the county must be careful about its role and noted the funds are intended for drug-enforcement activities; details of cross-jurisdictional cooperation were clarified in discussion. Supervisor Patrice Horstman called the funding “a multi-agency effort” and said she appreciated the breakdown and the benefits to public safety.
Vote and next steps: After discussion the board approved the grant acceptance and distribution. No amendments were recorded. The sheriff’s office will implement the allocations and coordinate with partner agencies cited in the presentation.
What’s next: The sheriff and county staff will carry out the spending and report back through routine departmental updates or as the board requests.
