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Cochise County sheriff outlines jail project timeline and plans for county animal shelter
Summary
Sheriff Danos said the county hopes to break ground on a new jail within about a year and is pursuing a county-run animal shelter to relieve municipal capacity pressures; Supervisor Kathy Gomez is leading the shelter effort and funding details were not finalized.
Sheriff Mark Danos told listeners that two capital projects — a new county jail and a county‑run animal shelter — are priorities for Cochise County in 2026.
On the jail, Danos said planning is underway and that the county expects to "be looking at cutting ribbon and moving the first dirt" in roughly a year, though he noted timelines could shift. He described the jail as a "big capital project" that will require substantial work in coming months.
On animal services, Danos said the county is pursuing its own shelter because animal intake in Cochise County has reached premature capacity and shared municipal kennels are no longer sufficient. He said Supervisor Kathy Gomez has "been leading the charge with me on this one," and that the county is exploring purchasing a shelter "on this side of the county" but that "nothing's finalized." He said a county shelter would aim to reduce pressure on city facilities and provide more resources for local animals.
Danos did not provide project budgets or firm timelines for either project on air. He framed both as responses to operational need and community concern and said officials will provide updates as planning progresses.
