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Cochise County sheriff reviews 2024, highlights border pursuits, regional SWAT and military ties
Summary
Sheriff Mark J. Daniels told KWCD listeners that 2024 was dominated by border-related pursuits, expanded regional law enforcement teams and closer operational ties with Fort Huachuca. He described recent uses of the county helicopter and said cooperation with federal and military partners remains central to local enforcement.
Sheriff Mark J. Daniels summarized the Cochise County Sheriff's Office's 2024 work on KWCD's First Watch, saying the year was dominated by border issues and pursuit-related operations.
"Well, 2024 was a political year. ... The border was huge," Daniels said, adding that pursuits and interdiction have driven much of the office's workload over the last three to four years. He credited partnerships with state and federal agents and with local communities for helping the office sustain operations despite constrained resources.
Daniels described ongoing regionalization efforts that pool resources across agencies. "We're pushing regionalization... we've regionalized our border team. We've... regionalized narcotics... and... the regional SWAT team," Daniels said, calling regional teams more efficient and effective and predicting a larger operational footprint in 2025.
He said the county's law enforcement helicopter, known as Hawkeye, recently gained night capabilities and helped track suspects after a vehicle crash in a desert pursuit; the sheriff said both occupants were taken into custody and were "sitting in my jail." Daniels credited pilots and technical flight officers for guiding interdiction teams from the air.
Daniels also explained the county's operational relationship with Fort Huachuca and the military's confinement arrangements. He said the sheriff's office houses military personnel when the post requires confinement, and that the county must ensure protective measures so service members are "sight and sound" separated from other inmates.
On cross-border cooperation, Daniels described meeting the Mexican consulate in Bisbee and called the consulate a "liaison" his office uses to reconnect migrants to Mexico when needed. He said his office had recovered some migrants from life-threatening situations in prior years and that the consulate relationship helps in those cases.
Daniels closed by thanking deputies, detention staff and support personnel for the year's work and said the office would continue operational adjustments into 2025.
Ending: Daniels urged residents to recognize the role of county personnel and partnerships in public safety and said the office plans further regional cooperation and operational refinements next year.
