Sheriff's Hathaway Round-Up Report

This past month we celebrated our Halloween Event. We loved seeing all of our children have fun but also staying safe.  Our event consisted of a Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat coordinated by all of our divisions to include Patrol, Detention, Dispatch, and Admin.

Our Command Staff from the Santa Cruz County Adult Detention Center also partnered this month with the Nogales - Santa Cruz County Public Library to promote the importance of reading. Thank you to our Detention Sergeant and Commander!

Our Officers also participated with the Rio Rico Fire District for their annual pancake event. Thank you to all involved for coming out and providing resources and information to our community! 

The holidays are here, and we would like to remind you to stay safe and keep others safe. Even one empty seat at the table is too many. Be safe this holiday season. Don’t drink and drive. Remember buzzed driving is drunk driving!  

Many people leave town for the holidays, so if you see anything or anyone suspicious we encourage you to call the Sheriff’s Office. Our Communications Division is always available to assist you. Also, a reminder: If you are leaving on vacation, the Sheriff’s Office offers courtesy House Checks multiple times each day. Call (520) 761-7869 for more information or dial 911 for any emergencies.

HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Your Sheriff,

David Hathaway

October was Domestic violence awareness month and here at the Sheriff’s Office we stand together with victims. DV awareness month encourages survivors to share their stories so that others will know that they are not alone. Our Detention Officers and Deputies showed solidarity with victims by displaying a purple and pink version of the Sheriff’s Office patch. Our administrative staff and Communications Officers wore black t-shirts with the same message, “No one fights alone.”

The Sheriff’s Office is participating in multiple fall community events and career fairs this month. We love being out with our community! 

Some Deputies and Communications Officers became certified as phlebotomists this past month. Phlebotomists are law enforcement and civilian personnel with specialized training to draw blood for investigative purposes including DUI investigations, DNA testing, and communicable disease testing.

Red Ribbon Week is being held in our local schools. The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during a one-week period. The Red Ribbon Campaign is focused on alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse and on violence prevention and awareness. It is observed annually in October in the United States. It began as a tribute to fallen DEA special agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985.

Sheriff Hathaway and Nogales Mayor Jorge Maldonado were pleased to meet with Senator Mark Kelly and other government and non-governmental personnel in Nogales this week to discuss border issues and coordination with federal, local, and non-profit entities. 

Holidays Season is upon us and with that we remind you to make responsible decisions and stay safe!

Your Sheriff,

David Hathaway

 This past month we celebrated our female officers on National Police Women Day. We deeply appreciate the service of the ladies who proudly wear their badges and serve our beautiful county.

There were a few events this past month in our county. Like the 9/11 Memorial which our Honor Guard represented our agency in a beautiful ceremony that honored the fallen.

Also, our county fair was in town which offered a weekend of fun, games, 4H and delicious snacks!

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office along with other agencies got together to celebrate CBP Family Day. All agencies along with their families got to enjoy a day full of fun, activities, food and music. We appreciated the invitation and we look forward for the next event.

Lastly, we honored those who served their county for years.

Fall has officially begun, and we are loving our Arizona sunsets! Can not wait what this new month will bring! Stay safe! This month we are excited to see you all at our Career Fair and Halloween Event! See you then.

Your Sheriff,

David Hathaway

During this past month, schools went back in session. Along with the new school season, our School Resource Officers went back into action to keep our schools safe. Parents, please remember to follow traffic orders and guidelines to keep everyone safe. Be sure to remind your children how kindness and respect goes a long way to create a great school environment.

This past month, we put on a Basic Field Training Officer training program to certify new Field Training Officers, or “FTO’s.” Congratulations to our deputies and officers who are now certified to train and to lead the next generation of future officers! 

Other training that the Sheriff’s Office participated in included the Honor Guard Academy at the Marana Police Department. Congratulations to our officers who successfully completed this training. That training included all aspects of Law Enforcement Honor Guard operations and included classroom presentations, discussions, practical application drills, and scenario-based training. A big thank you to our Honor Guard officers who volunteer to represent our agency!

As always, we extend a special thank you to all of our Sheriff’s Deputies, Law Enforcement Assist Volunteer Officers, Search and Rescue personnel, Communications Officers, Detectives, Detention Officers, and everyone who serves and keeps our beautiful county safe.

Your Sheriff,

David Hathaway

Back to School is right around the corner, and This month we want to honor our School Resource Officers.  

According to the National Association of School Resource Officers, an SRO is “a career law enforcement officer with sworn authority who is deployed by an employing police department or agency in a community-oriented policing assignment to work in collaboration with one or more schools.” They have many roles and responsibilities that define their role within a school. Educate – SROs often serve as guest lecturers to teach students about the criminal justice system, drug prevention, and other relevant topics. Mentor – SROs are informal counselors. Students should feel safe and comfortable talking to them or reporting a crime to them. Enforce – SROs are the first line of defense against crime in schools. This is especially relevant in protecting students from school shootings.

If you want to let your school’s SROs know you appreciate them keeping your kids safe at school, here are a few ways to say “thank you.” Write them a note. A handwritten card is always a good way to let someone know you’re grateful for their hard work! Have your kids write their own messages and sign their names in the card as well. Bake them a treat. Next time you share homemade cookies with the teachers at your school, save a few for your SRO. Your kids can pitch in to help with the baking and deliver the bag of goodies to their SRO. Give them a gift card. A treat like coffee or ice cream is sure to make anyone smile! This is also a great option if you don’t have time to bake, or if your school has restrictions for outside food.

Safety is our main priority, remember to use extra caution and safely share the road with school buses, pedestrians and bicyclists. Always use the crosswalk when available. Remind teen drivers to stay off their cell phones while traveling to school.

Let’s work together to keep our children and schools safe another school year.

Your Sheriff,

David Hathaway

The Sheriff David Hathaway and his team recently attended a community appreciation event sponsored by a local business. The event was a great opportunity for the Sheriff's Office employees to connect with the community they serve and protect.

The Sheriff's Office Detention employees also attended this year's JailCon23 held in Chandler, Arizona. The event provided a platform for the employees to learn about the latest developments in the field of detention and corrections. The employees took a group picture to commemorate the event and showcase their participation.

The Nogales Rotary recently honored local law enforcement, and the Sheriff's Office nominated Deputy Corporal Francisco Garcia for his exceptional performance. Corporal Garcia had performed a life-saving tourniquet on a Rio Rico resident who had severed one of his arteries on his arm. The Sheriff's Office is proud of Corporal Garcia's dedication to his duty and his commitment to saving lives.

Your Sheriff, David Hathaway

Sheriff David Hathaway and all Sheriff's Office staff congratulate all Santa Cruz County High School Graduates.

We are proud of your accomplishments and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

The Sheriff's Office is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all students in Santa Cruz County. As part of this commitment, we are working to implement a new common communication platform that will connect partners across the county. This technology will provide schools and law enforcement partners with interoperability technology and allow schools to communicate with 9-1-1 directly, providing them with situational awareness in case of an emergency.

The Sheriff's Office was awarded $750,000 from a state grant to connect directly with multiple public schools. This system is a robust information-sharing platform that has already been launched in nine counties and Santa Cruz County will be the tenth.

We would also like to congratulate our new D.A.R.E. graduates from all the Santa Cruz County Schools. This was another successful year! Thank you to DARE Instructor Deputy A. Estrada for his dedication and hard work.

We are proud to serve the students and families of Santa Cruz County. Together, we can make our community a safe and secure place for everyone.

Your Sheriff, David Hathaway

 In the month of May we celebrate the two Divisions of our Sheriff’s Office: 1) The Operations Division [for National Police Week]; and 2) The Detention Division [for National Corrections Week].

Corrections / Detention Officers are responsible for managing those who have been brought into custody by law enforcement. They typically supervise the activities of people in custody by enforcing rules and keeping order within jails or prisons and inspecting facilities to ensure that they meet security and safety standards. We would like to take the opportunity during “National Corrections Week” to acknowledge and thank the men and women who work in our county jail. 

During “National Police Week” we honor the men and women who risk their lives every day in the line of duty. It is also a time for police officers to honor their fallen colleagues, make sure those surviving them are supported, and to remember the ongoing commitment of our officers to keep people safe. Citizens and civilians can also celebrate the day by showing some love and gratitude to the policemen around them. National Police Week is all about honor, gratitude, remembrance, servitude, and peer support. 

We would like to thank all of our Detention Officers, Patrol Deputies, School Resource Officers, and Detectives for all their sacrifices, service and dedication.

Your Sheriff,

David Hathaway

  This month at the Sheriffs Office we celebrate three divisions who are critical for to all of us. National Volunteer Week during the third week in April is an opportunity to thank all the thousands of volunteers across the country who keep many organizations running, communities safe and provide the services that otherwise would not exist without volunteers. At The Santa Cruz County our Search and Rescue, and Law Enforcement Assistant program relies on volunteers. This week, we dedicate it to them. Thank you for your dedication and service to your county.

Secondly, Administrative Professionals Week is celebrated annually every last full week in April. This week is dedicated to recognizing and applauding the work of administrative personnel: receptionists, secretaries, administrative assistants, executive assistants, personal assistants, customer support, among other administrative support professionals. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and we appreciate all you do!

Lastly, Every year during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community, are honored. This week-long event, is time to appreciate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that should be set aside so everyone can be made aware of their hard work and dedication.Every day and night all across the country, public safety telecommunicators answer emergency and non-emergency calls. They connect callers to emergency care and provide valuable resources to those in need. Tele- Communicators provide life-saving services by talking distressed callers and calming hysterical crime victims and they make difficult decisions using limited information to save lives. We appreciate you and thank you for your service.

We are so grateful for all of you and cannot stress enough how critical to our county all of you are!

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office appreciates volunteers, administrative, and tele-communicators in every agency.

Thanks you for everything,

Sheriff David Hathaway

 Sheriff David Hathaway addressed the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and San Luis City Council while visiting Yuma during an on-site hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee which included multiple members of Congress.
Also, this past month, our Search and Rescue members successfully completed rescues in the area of Madera Canyon. We cannot thank them enough for all they do. Let's keep in mind that our Search and Rescue consists of mostly volunteers who respond in their free time, risking their lives for others.
We would like to congratulate our new graduates from the Correctional Officers Training Academy! We wish you a successful career!
This past month, we were invited to patrol the Tubac Art Festival. We enjoyed interacting with everyone, and patrolling our beautiful county. (Also, the kettle corn was a plus!) Administrative Sergeant Omar Rodriguez addressed Tubac residents reference the Neighborhood Watch program and Sheriff Hathaway addressed the Santa Cruz Valley Citizens Council in Tubac.  For additional information on our Neighborhood Watch Program, please contact Sergeant Rodriguez at 520-761-7869

As we can all agree the weather has been unpredictable so we ask all of you to stay safe and warm!

Your Sheriff, David Hathaway
 

The first month of the year is over and it was a great one!

We had a special visitor Sheriff Tim Summer from Greenlee County who got a tour

Of our beautiful county and shared operational information. 

Officer Manager Aida Rodriguez retired after many years working at the Sheriff’s Office. 

We wish great things for you Aida. Happy Retirement!  

On the other hand, we want to congratulate Communications Officer Heath for completing our rigorous three-month training successfully. Communications Officers are a crucial part of our first responders’ team. 911 Dispatchers are the calm voice in the dark, the heroes behind the scenes. The golden link that holds everything together.

Also, special mention to Detective Bunting for receiving his 20 year of service Ring. Thank you for your service Joe.

The Sheriff also attended the inauguration ceremony for the governor and other state elected officials.

Special thanks to all of our Sheriff’s Office Employees and volunteers for all you do!

Stay safe out there,

Your Sheriff Hathaway

 The Sheriff’s Office is excited to greet the New Year and to participate in many community activities leading up to warmer days.  We are happy to welcome some new personnel to our staff including Deputy Abelardo Gonzalez who recently graduated from the Western Arizona Law Enforcement Training and Deputies Andres Estrella and Jose Mendoza who both graduated from the Southeast Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy. They were previously Detention Officers at the Sheriff's Office. These employees represented the county well during their tough training at these academies. Various members of the Sheriff’s Office enjoyed decorating vehicles and participating in the annual Nogales Holiday Light parade including Sheriff Hathaway, Chief Deputy Morales, and members of the Search and Rescue team. It was wonderful to see a large outpouring of community support this month at the Sonoita Fairgrounds where many people turned out for the 85th birthday party of San Rafael Valley rancher and legend Bud Bercich. Sheriff Hathaway was glad to speak and share some history of the Bercich family who were long time ranching neighbors of the Hathaways. There were so many great events in the county this month that they are too numerous to mention. They included the Tubac Festival, the annual steak dinner of the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association, the “Christmas in Elgin” arts and crafts festival, the Fiesta de Tumacacori, the Sonoita Small Town Christmas, the Amado Chili Cook-off and Car Show, the Chamber of Commerce holiday mixer at Rancho San Cayetano, the Fraternal Order of Police Christmas banquet, and many posadas including the one put on by the Circles of Peace on Morley Avenue. What a joyous Christmas and holiday season it was and we wish everyone a blessed new year!

  This month, the Sheriff’s Office was pleased to host a meeting with Maki Teramoto who is the “Directora General de la Proteccion de Mexicanos en el Exterior.” Various issues were discussed including Search and Rescue programs, prisoner handling in the Santa Cruz County Jail, and the status of various visa categories involving Mexican citizens. Also, the staff of the Sheriff’s Office was grateful to be treated to a free lunch that was hosted by the “Santa Cruz County Patriots.” The group provided the lunch to two shifts of Sheriff’s Office personnel as a “thank you” for their service. The Sheriff’s Office also participated in “National Take-Back Day” which is an annual event that allows community members to dispose of unwanted prescription medicines and pharmaceutical items. We give a big thank you to the Garrett family for allowing law enforcement personnel to use their store as a drop-off location for this important program. Various groups and media outlets including Telemundo, Insight Crime, and the Tubac Rotary Club were briefed by the Sheriff or did ride-along interviews with him this month to discuss various topics including drug trafficking and our volunteer programs (Search and Rescue Program and our Law Enforcement Assist program). The county was happy to welcome the annual convention of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas to Tubac which included an amazing culinary showcase provided by the Consulate of Mexico. It was a very successful event. The Sheriff participated in the Empire Ranch cowboy festival just outside of Sonoita this month as well which was a great event with authors and demonstrations of cowboy crafts. The Sheriff’s Office also participated in the annual Veteran’s Day parade in downtown Nogales and a memorial event at the Wall of Honor in front of Nogales City Hall. We wish the community a joyous holiday season filled with lots of tamales and pumpkin pie! 

  The Sheriff and Command Staff were honored to participate in the Fallen Officer Memorial this past month held on Morley Avenue in downtown Nogales. Family members of fallen officers Jesus “Chuy” Cordova and Jeremy Brinton participated as well. County Attorney George Silva was the speaker and gave a very moving presentation recounting the service of fallen officers in the county.  The Sheriff was happy to participate in the 100th anniversary celebration of his Alma Mater, “The Little Red School” on Duquesne Road where the school’s long history was reviewed. The Sheriff also attended an Open House for the Crossroads Mission Transitional Center for Women and Children in Nogales.  We are happy that private community partners like Crossroads do so much to support the needs of the poor and downtrodden in our communities. This month, the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office underwent a time-machine transformation with a mural giving the feel of an old-time sheriff’s office. The effect was enhanced with the addition of the roll-top desk owned by Sheriff J.J. Lowe who was sheriff from 1939 to 1958. Come by and have a look! The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office was glad to host this month a meeting of all the “Search and Rescue” groups from all counties in Arizona. It was a good opportunity to network and share strategies and capabilities. Also, the Sheriff’s Office recently kicked off training for a new class of volunteer deputies as part of our Law Enforcement Assist program. With the addition of these volunteers, our volunteer program will double in size. Sheriff Hathaway was also glad to host Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs for a day involving a briefing on county issues and a tour of the border. This month, the Sheriff’s Office was sad to see the retirement of Commander Raoul Rodriguez who dedicated 25 years of his life to the Sheriff’s Office, but we are happy that he will be able to pursue new opportunities. We wish you all the best Commander!

This past month local officials, including the Sheriff, spoke to the community in 9/11 events to recognize the sacrifices of heroes and to emphasize the importance of liberty. Another joint priority is the recognition of substance abuse problems in all communities and an earnest effort to stop these problems in the early stages. Mayor Garino, Sheriff Hathaway, Chief Bermudez, and County Attorney George Silva have reached out to the public on various occasions this month to emphasize the importance of intervening and offering help to those who have become trapped in a cycle of substance abuse. The Sheriff and others have spoken to the public this month via radio, print media, and in person at events held at Pierson School (Over dose Awareness Day), Teyechea Park (Nogales Night Out), Cordova Park, and Karam Park.  The Sheriff’s Office was also honored to participate in a fallen officer memorial tribute at the Little Outfit Ranch this month where family members of fallen officers Jesus “Chuy” Cordova and Jeremy Brinton were presented with plaques honoring the service of those officers.  The colorful and festive Fiestas Patrias in downton Nogales brought a bright and cheery atmosphere to the community while the county fair and rodeo were great successes allowing the community to feel a hint of fall with some fresh cooler weather. The Sheriff’s Office Command Staff was also happy to meet with and welcome new Mexican Consul Officer Victor Jimenez this month to assure that cross-border issues are dealt with smoothly through official channels. The Sheriff and his family also enjoyed participating in a clean-up day for the one-room Lochiel School House arranged by Patagonia resident German Quiroga. Thank you German for the efforts you make to keep the community involved in historical preservation efforts like this! The Sheriff’s Office is pleased to welcome two new senior officers to our deputy ranks, Miguel Diaz and Mario Rodriguez.  We also congratulate Detention Officers Daniel Fimbres, Alex Castillo, Christian Matus, and Brian Garcia who graduated from the C.O.T.A. Academy this month. Also, we recognize newly hired detention employees  Alejandro Castellanos, Ernesto Sandoval, Justine Astorga and newly hired Telecommunicator Christine De La Riva. Welcome aboard!

  As the Sheriff’s Office ramps up it’s hiring of Detention Officers, we are glad to see the progress of various officers currently undergoing training at the Correctional Officer’s Training Academy in Tucson. Members of the Command Staff attended the graduation ceremony for new officer Fernando Valencia and are proudly encouraging other new officers who are undergoing both detention training and deputy sheriff training at various academies. Our volunteer program has expanded greatly and we are about to kick off an in-house training class for our many new volunteers. An expanded volunteer program to help our small agency cover the county has always been part of the vision of Sheriff Hathaway and it is coming to fruition with the large number of volunteers that have come forward to be a part of the Sheriff’s Office. Both our volunteer deputies (“Law Enforcement Assist Officers”) and our volunteer Search and Rescue members play a vital and rewarding role. Our Search and Rescue volunteers selflessly give up personal time to come to the rescue of lost persons who are often lost in rough remote terrain during hours of darkness and in inclement weather. We cannot thank these volunteers enough. The Sheriff’s Office was pleased to participate this month in an impromptu parade and celebration for the 95th birthday of WWII veteran Sergeant Conrado Humberto Villegas at the Bowman Senior Center in Nogales. The Sheriff’s Office was also happy to participate in the Teacher of the Year Ceremony at the Tubac Resort which honored the many fine teachers in the county and the winner, Mark Dittmar. 

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is taking over law enforcement responsibilities in the beautiful town of Patagonia. The Sheriff’s Office is making special efforts via our Command Staff, our volunteers, and our patrol deputies to reach out to individuals and businesses in Patagonia to make sure we are addressing concerns of residents. We already facilitated a very successful Fourth of July parade and fireworks presentation and have provided security and traffic control for other recent events such as the celebration of the life of Patagonia resident Harold Swyers. Sheriff Hathaway met with U.S. Senator Mark Kelly in Nogales this month along with other elected and appointed officials to discuss border infrastructure improvements to be provided by the federal government. If you are looking for a great job, the Sheriff’s Office is actively recruiting for Detention Officers. This is a great job with a starting pay of $32,181 and lots of overtime potential resulting in most officers earning over $40,000. The job also includes paid vacation, paid sick leave, and health insurance. Come by and get an application, apply on-line at santacruzsheriff.org, or call 520-761-7869. I hope you are getting out and enjoying the great outdoors! – Sheriff David Hathaway

 The local weather groundhog (actually a Santa Cruz River bullfrog) is telling the Sheriff that it is going to be a great rainy season. Per local cowboy folklore, a hot June means that San Juan’s Day, June 24, will of the season; and we had a VERY HOT June! Vaquero optimism says June 24 for the start date, but our bullfrog says the Fourth of July will be when the season starts with a bang. The Sheriff and his wife were privileged to have a tour of the Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, Sonora this month along other Members of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force and faith leaders from various churches around the U.S. It was a delightful opportunity to see and participate in a tangible display of neighbors helping neighbors. What an important work is done by local places in Nogales, Sonora like the Kino Border Initiative and the Albergue San Juan Bosco Migrant Shelter, and organizations in Arizona like the Crossroads Mission in Nogales, Arizona and Casa Alitas in Tucson. It is really worth a tour and some hands-on volunteer work if you haven’t pitched in yet at one of these local private faith-based organizations. The Sheriff’s Office welcomed Jose Mendoza to its ranks as another graduate this month from the Correctional Officer Training Academy in Tucson. Great job Officer Mendoza! The Sheriff’s Office is bidding a fond farewell to Ray Sayre this month, the local director of the county Emergency Management Agency and a longtime partner of all first responders. He facilitated the very successful multi-agency LEPC “Local Emergency Planning Committee” and hosted many innovative training sessions. All the best to Ray in his future endeavors! The Sheriff’s Office also proudly participated in the annual Santa Cruz County Memorial Day celebration this past month. On a somber note, the Sheriff’s Office along with many other agencies, friends, and family celebrated the life of Nogales Police Officer Jeremy Britton who passed away unexpectedly while performing selfless public service for the community. The Sheriff’s Office and many other community partners were glad to be able to hit the local streets on our personal time and pick up trash throughout the community this month. It was great to see so many of you out there as well. The Sheriff’s Office particularly focused its attention on cleaning roadways  adopted by the organization.  This month, the Sheriff was privileged to be able to speak to Governor Ducey about local issues along with other community leaders during a round-table meeting in Nogales. The Sheriff’s Office was also happy to be able to set up an information booth and interact with the community at a Family Night Out at the Pierson School where the Sheriff, the Mayor, and the County Attorney addressed the youth in the community in person and via live-stream about the need to make good choices in life. Get ready for the thunder and lightning. It’s coming! 

The Sheriff’s Office has had the privilege of helping with and attending high school graduations, middle school transition ceremonies, and other celebrations of the close of another school year. Our School Resource Officers have enjoyed helping students and school staff to have safe enjoyable experiences in their school environments and a joyous transition into summer and new life experiences. This month has been an opportunity for the Sheriff’s Office to join in with other community partners like Justice of the Peace Emilio Velasquez, the Mariposa Community Health Center, and other community coalitions to improve the way the criminal justice system deals with mental health and substance abuse issues. The goal is to serve non-violent offenders “where they are” in life and to look for alternatives to incarceration so that families can stay together and so that people can retain employment when possible. Judge Velasquez has been an inspiration and a leader to community partners in these innovative approaches and the Sheriff’s Office is glad to assist with these initiatives. This month, Sheriff Hathaway briefed U.S. Senator Mark Kelly and multiple media outlets about the importance of opening the ports-of-entry for tourist visa holders from Mexico to assist in the recovery of the local economy that has been impacted heavily by the 13-month ban on Mexican tourists coming into the U.S. to shop and to patronize our hospitality industry. Various other local agencies and non-governmental partners are also writing letters and reaching out to federal officials at this time to emphasize the economic importance of the relationship with Mexico and the need to re-establish that relationship. The Sheriff’s Office is also prioritizing other less glamorous things at this time of year like revamping its outdated policies, implementing a strategic plan with other county agencies, and reviewing its budget with the county manager and county finance department to assure responsible use of county funds. We are also glad to see our economy and social activities beginning to rebound and are happy to have been invited to participate in recent traditional community events like the wonderful Fiestas de Mayo celebration. Enjoy your summer!    

May brings with it National Correctional Officers Week (May 2 – 8) and National Police Week (May 9 – 15) culminating with Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15. So, it is the perfect time to show your appreciation for all officers that go to work every day to provide security and to keep the peace in our communities. May is also the month for the Special Olympics Torch Run. It is scheduled for Monday, May 03, 2021, to begin at 08:00 AM at the Manuel Tapia Memorial Trail behind the county complex. As in previous years, the Sheriff’s Office will be partnering with the Nogales Police Department to participate in this great event. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office 2020-2021 D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program was a fantastic success and was completed by 5th grade students from Bracker Elementary School, Calabasas School, Elgin School, Little Red School House, Mountain View Elementary School, Patagonia School, and San Cayetano Elementary School. Because of the students’ hard work and the hard work of D.A.R.E. Instructor Deputy Alejandra Estrada, a total of 187 students graduated from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office D.A.R.E. Program this school year. Every graduated student will be receiving a D.A.R.E. Graduate Certificate, D.A.R.E. Graduate Card, D.A.R.E. Shirt, D.A.R.E. color changing cup, and a D.A.R.E. Proud Parent Bumper Sticker. Each graduate also completed a D.A.R.E. essay as well. Students choose the best essay writer of each class (a total of 15 classes) and those students are the D.A.R.E. Essay Winners. Winners will be receiving a "Best Essay of The Class” Certificate, a "Best Essay” Pin, a six-inch Daren Graduate Beany, and a surprise gift from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. Every teacher will be receiving a Certificate of Appreciation and a D.A.R.E. Gift as a token of appreciation for their time and support to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office D.A.R.E. Program. This was a challenging school year but with a lot of hard work by students and staff, the Santa Cruz County D.A.R.E. Program was a great success. The Sheriff’s Office is happy to announce that Dispatcher Crystal Hernandez has been named as the social media coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office and is doing a fantastic job putting out interesting content and great images covering what the Sheriff’s Office is up to in addition to her regular work as a dispatcher. The Sheriff’s Office is also proud to have two of its own Detention Officers (Officer Jose Peña and Officer Joel Hathaway) graduate from the rigorous Correctional Officer’s Training Academy in Tucson this month. A special thanks to Deputies Al Flores and Ronald Davis who were recognized by the Sheriff this month for special contributions made during assists to the public. Also, a big thank you to our great Search and Rescue team that was recently featured on a Telemundo special report. These volunteers selflessly give up weekends, evenings, and free time to rescue people stranded in harsh conditions and to train for that role. To wrap up on a bright note, a local Girl Scouts troop has offered to spruce up the Sheriff’s Office building by planting flowers in front. Thank you for that kind gesture! I hope you all are enjoying the nice weather as we look forward to the rainy season. All the best to you and your families! 

As the weather teases us with the hope of warmer days on the horizon, the Sheriff’s Office would like to welcome the students back to school! There is a lot of excitement in the air as students relish the opportunity to re-engage with classmates, teachers, and extracurricular programs. Sheriff Hathaway and staff have had the privilege of talking to and meeting with public school officials including Desert Shadows Principal Christopher Miranda and his staff to ensure an effective relationship with the schools via the Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer program upon the reopening of schools. All of the command staff at the Sheriff’s Office also had the honor of participating in the “Read Across America” program and to read to the students in various public schools throughout the county. This is an important program that allows students to hear from members of the community who stress to them the importance of reading in the pursuit of any endeavor in life. One of the schools Sheriff Hathaway read too was the Little Red School on Patagonia Highway where the Sheriff answered questions from students about the original much smaller school that was also attended by Sheriff Hathaway and his father before him. The Sheriff noted that there had been many changes made from the single building and creative recess games like freeze tag and kickball played by the students in the dirt preceding the modern facility at the location today. This month, Sheriff Hathaway had the privilege of being the guest speaker with various groups including the Rotary Club in Nogales and the Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce and shared some of the new programs in the Sheriff’s Office and noteworthy accomplishments of staff. Sheriff Hathaway and Chief Deputy Mario Morales were given a very thorough tour of the Mariposa commercial port-of-entry this month by Port Director Michael Humphreys and his staff and discussed cooperative efforts with federal agencies. Sheriff Hathaway reminisced about his participation in the first opening of the Mariposa Port with a group of students while in high school in the 1970s and the second re-opening of the expanded facility in more recent years. The Sheriff’s Office has been contacted by many people interested in the volunteer Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement Assist programs. It is not too late to join as we are planning to begin training programs in the near future for both programs. The Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize important members of our team during “Administrative Professionals Week,” “National Volunteer Week,” and “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week” which all occur during the month of April. Thank you to all of these key personnel!

Sheriff David Hathaway

Besides bringing snow, the last month has also seen new outreach programs coming from the Sheriff’s Office to the community. Sergeant Chad Matthews has been designated as the first Ranch Liaison Officer for the Sheriff’s Office. In this pioneer role, he will have the responsibility of reaching out to the ranching community to see how the Sheriff’s Office can provide better service in the rural parts of the county. Sheriff Hathaway and his staff also held a “Meet the Sheriff” event at the Sonoita Fairgrounds to allow the public to hear the latest law enforcement happenings around the county and to allow the Sheriff’s Office to get input on areas of concern to the community. This month, the Sheriff’s Office is also unveiling a pilot program to combat drug overdoses in the county, by giving departing inmates training on the signs of overdose and how to counteract the effects of an overdose through the use of Narcan. Sheriff’s Deputies and Detention Officers also receive Narcan training. The Sheriff’s Office has reached out this month to establish and bolster partnerships with Heritage Medical Solutions, Circles of Peace, Hope, Inc. (formerly Wellness Connections), and Santa Cruz County Public Schools to gain community assistance regarding inmate reintegration into the community through peer counseling, prescription assistance, education programs, and other community support mechanisms. The Sheriff’s Office has welcomed on board Chief Deputy Mario Morales. He is starting his new job by learning more about community outreach programs in use by other agencies like Tucson Police Department so that the Sheriff’s Office can liaison better with the community in specialized areas such as mental health. This will allow us to deal better with a nationwide negative trend of increasing suicides and overdoses. The Sheriff’s Office is also starting a “Cold Case Squad” spearheaded by Investigator Tom Sauser. This initiative will look at old cases to see if new leads can be developed. We are also actively recruiting individuals who are interested in volunteering for the Search and Rescue Program or to be a volunteer Deputy Sheriff (Law Enforcement Assist Program). If you are interested in either of these programs, call (520) 761-7869 and ask for Lieutenant Gerardo Castillo. On a very positive note, Sheriff Hathaway gave Corporal Paul Estrada special recognition this month for helping bring a family to safety that was lost in the area of Elephant Head in the Santa Rita Mountains. If you know Paul, please thank him for this “above and beyond” effort. Also, all members of the Command Staff at the Sheriff’s Office have volunteered to participate in the upcoming “Read Across America” event in partnership with the county public schools which allows children to experience the importance and joy of reading through class interaction with community members. Lastly, the Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Communications Director Javier De La Ossa and Civil Officer Gabriel Almeida for their years of dedicated service as Javier moves on to an I.T. position with the county and Gabriel enters retirement. They will both be missed! Happy trails to all residents and visitors in historic and beautiful Santa Cruz County!

Sheriff David Hathaway 

The old year is out and the new one is in! I hope you all had an enjoyable and safe holiday season. I am happy to be very busy in my first weeks as Sheriff. It has been a wonderful time involving a lot of official visits and radio, TV, and print media interviews on both sides of the border. I had a very personable visit and briefing with Ambassador Ricardo Santana Velázquez, Mexico’s consul in Nogales, Arizona where we discussed transnational economic, security, and cultural issues. Other visits have included meetings with the other border sheriffs and meetings with law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border. I had an especially enjoyable visit with the Chief of Police of Santa Cruz, Sonora and with the mayor of Santa Cruz. We talked about the shared history of our relatives that lived in the Lochiel / Santa Cruz area in the 1800s and the mutual history of those border communities. I casually mentioned that my great grandfather used to send his son on a burro from Lochiel to Santa Cruz 120 years ago to get a bottle of tequila and the mayor surprised me with a bottle of tequila bought in Santa Cruz. Well, I’m not a drinker, but it is a nice souvenir and reminder of my family history! I have really enjoyed interacting with the public and hearing suggestions on how we can serve the community better. I have instructed the deputies to adopt a stance of community outreach and to look for opportunities to serve all members of the community. We are also working to actively promote our county as a safe place to visit or to live in with good weather, friendly people, fine restaurants, shopping opportunities, and beautiful vistas. As the county in Arizona with the largest, busiest ports of entry with Mexico and with the historic sister cities of Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, I am also busy supporting and promoting those important economic and cultural relationships between the two communities and two countries. Congressman Raul Grijalva and I have discussed my inclusion as a local official interacting with any Congressional working groups involved in international relations so as to enhance the voice of our communities in Congress. Please contact me with any suggestions or concerns. I give my cell phone and email out to everyone and I am glad to get your input. You are my boss! Cell: (520) 603-1028, Email: SheriffDavidHathaway@gmail.com. Have an enjoyable and blessed New Year! Sheriff David Hathaway  

  Welcome to Safe, Historic, and Beautiful Santa Cruz County, 

Many are worried that border communities are unsafe. In the case of Santa Cruz County and the city of Nogales, we have a very safe border area. Our people are friendly and our businesses are inviting. In many ways, our county provides some relief from the stress of modern life while offering scenic vistas and milder temperatures than other parts of the state. Our annual rainfall exceeds much of Arizona. This results in more vegetation and animal life and beautiful riparian and forested areas ranging in elevation from 3,200 feet at the Santa Cruz River to over 9,000 feet in the Santa Rita Mountains. The county offers exquisite opportunities for exploring nature and unique local traditions of culture and food and people who openly embrace outsiders with gestures of friendliness. Persons who have lived in our county often return to our friendly relaxed communities after experiencing life elsewhere. 

I, Sheriff David Hathaway, was born and raised in Nogales and I have lived and worked in various parts of Santa Cruz County. I can assure you that you will enjoy visiting or living in our county. Nogales and Santa Cruz County have crime rates below the average for the state. My wife Karen and I and our family would like to welcome you as a visitor or a new resident to any of our communities which range from the rural ranching and vineyard regions on the edges of the county to the border community of Nogales and the many other urban and suburban parts of the county in-between that each offer their own unique culture. 

As a family with nine children, we can attest to the fact that Santa Cruz County is a great safe place to raise a family and has the advantage of offering the experience of multiple cultures and easy visits to Mexico. We are happy to welcome you and your family to our unique friendly county. 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call me at 520-761-7869 at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. I look forward to welcoming you and your family to our county.

Sincerely,

David Hathaway

Sheriff

Santa Cruz County