Cochise County sheriff urges vigilance, touts statewide communications upgrade
Loading...
Summary
Sheriff Mark Danos discussed regional public-safety trends, a new statewide communications link for first responders, and community follow-up on repeat-offender concerns during a KWCD 'First Watch' interview.
Cochise County Sheriff Mark Danos on a local KWCD program urged residents to stay vigilant as local and national law-enforcement agencies confront rising violence and described recent improvements to communications that he said will help responders statewide.
On the program, Danos said he recently finished his term as president of the Western States Sheriffs’ Association and handed the gavel to Sheriff Tracy Glover of Utah. He discussed national personnel changes and said local agencies must keep doing their jobs regardless of political developments in Washington. "We're gonna keep doing that," Danos said.
Danos described a new statewide communications capability — referred to on-air as SECOM — that he said will let deputies, police, EMS and fire personnel reach dispatch from anywhere in the state where there is cell service. "We probably say, well, what do we need that for?" Danos said. He cited examples such as prisoner transports and crashes on rural interstates and called the upgrade a "huge" step forward funded by grants and delivered as in-kind support to local agencies.
Danos also recounted community concerns raised at a SunSites meeting about a single repeat offender who, he said, has ‘‘terrorized’’ the neighborhood. Danos said the person had been arrested multiple times — he recalled about 18 separate contacts — including releases on trespass charges, and that the sheriff's office would return to the community with operational priorities and follow-up. "If we messed up, we're gonna fix it," Danos said.
The sheriff addressed public safety trends, noting recent shootings of deputies in other jurisdictions and offering an on-air figure he said reflected officers shot or killed so far this year. "We're in a really unique and violent time in this country when it comes to that," Danos said, adding a call for neighbors to know each other and report concerns early.
He also answered listener questions about intersection safety after a multi-vehicle crash, advising drivers to avoid getting stuck in intersections and to remain vigilant. "Don't put yourself in that position," Danos said.
The interview concluded with Danos encouraging residents to contact the sheriff’s office about concerns and with a reminder about upcoming community outreach events where the public can meet deputies and public-safety personnel.
The interview was part of a morning program sponsored by Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative and did not produce any formal votes or policy actions; Danos said the office would report back to the affected neighborhood with clarifications about steps already taken and planned operational priorities.
