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Sahuarita council approves fingerprinting and detention-identification ordinances
Summary
Council unanimously adopted two ordinances to strengthen local identification procedures: one establishing a noncriminal fingerprinting check for town hires/volunteers, the other requiring provision of full name and date of birth when officers detain someone, intended to reduce misidentification.
Council adopted two public-safety ordinances after presentations from the chief of police and staff.
The first ordinance (No. 2026-195) authorizes a simple, noncriminal fingerprint check for certain town hires and volunteers where a higher level of background screening is appropriate. Chief Nolan told the council the process is similar to those used for teachers, coaches and bank employees and operates as a quick database check rather than routine retention of fingerprint images.
The second ordinance (No. 2026-196) would require that officers request and record a full name and date of birth when they detain someone, filling what staff described as an inadvertent omission in the cited Arizona statute. Chief Nolan said adding date of birth to the record helps avoid misidentifying someone who shares a common name.
Both ordinances were moved and adopted by unanimous voice vote. Council did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; staff said the ordinances align the town with practices used elsewhere in the state.
