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Dever responds to
questions in letter

Published/Last Modified on Friday, Oct 10, 2008 - 05:23:29 am MST

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To the Editor:

Jacqueline O’Connor (letter on Oct. 5) posed three questions that merit a response. “Why is the Sheriff’s Office in Sierra Vista? Why has the city not annexed … county islands within city limits? What response have I (Sheriff Dever) had to the strategic plan submitted to the Board of Supervisors?”

The sheriff, unlike a police department, not only has statutory duty to preserve the peace and authority to enforce the law, but several other distinct responsibilities. They include serving court proceedings throughout the county, including within city boundaries. Examples are warrants, tort claims, subpoenas, writs, etc. The office is also charged with the responsibility to maintain a jail and transport defendants to the court.

With the special relationship between the sheriff and other criminal justice agencies, it only makes sense that physical facilities would be centrally located on the same campus when feasible. While I would love to have full service substations located in more rural areas, operational concerns, staffing limitations and economic conditions are prohibitive. However, modern technology improvements, funded almost exclusively by federal grants, have helped us become much more responsive in more remote areas of the county and efficient in our operations.

As for the city annexing county islands, you will have to take this up with city officials. I have little say in the matter.

The Board of Supervisors’ response to our strategic plan has been very encouraging. We have been able to achieve more than 80 percent of our originally stated goals. As a result, we have competitive pay for deputies and the latest in technological support systems. There is not space here to describe these, but if you would like to see for yourself, please visit one of our facilities. You will be amazed. Two of our objectives remain elusive: Expansion of the main jail facility and the addition of 24 deputies to expand our directed patrol capabilities. Given current economic conditions, it is unlikely we will reach these objectives any time soon. We will keep working at it. Keep in mind, strategic planning is a dynamic activity, always adjusting to existing realities while remaining focused on worthy objectives.

I hope this answers Mrs. O’Connor’s questions. I invite everyone to contact me personally for answers to questions such as these.

Larry A. Dever

Cochise County sheriff and Republican candidate

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OConnor wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:06 PM:

" Thank you for your response, Sheriff Dever. Your explanation of duties, other than law enforcement (warrants, torts, subpoenas) helped exlain the logic for locating an office in SV.
Other questions. Do you know (1) how much time/money is spent responding to calls in the SV islands (cost/benefit)? (2) How old is the jail and how long has it been over-crowded?
(3) What interim measures are in place to alleviate the jail overcrowding?
(3) What is your "directed patrol"?
(4) Where is your Strategic Plan available for review?
Thank you! "

Joe wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:39 AM:

" How can a Sheriff for 12 years sit back and not petition the state for a helmet law??? He is so compacent that it is scarry. I want someone who IS going to make waves at the capitol and do what is right. Not someone who wants his picture on the front page just for the sake of having it there. Dever your time is up! Time to punch out buddy. "

Fernando wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:51 AM:

" There are also regulations concerning registration of off-road vehicles using public roads, helmet use, riding double, trespass on private property, etc, not to mention disturbing the peace. None of these are enforced either. If deputies are not enforcing these basic regulations and not writing citations, then someone else needs to be responsible. Which is why we went to the sheriff and he did nothing. "

another question wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:34 PM:

" Larry Dever, why not have an open online forum, so everyone can ask questions and read your answers. "

Beyond Belief wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:54 PM:

" Mr Dever please!! For 12 years you have ignored the jail, the whole fiasco of Ron Hager proves that, now you want to blame a bad economy for your failures! For goodnes sake you designed the jail! 72 hour response times!? Top CCSO people on the lam?!? Biggest meth problem in the State!? Try telling the truth, for once. How about a straight answer to a straight question. Please quit with the political spin and pointing fingers. Enough! Try spinning this one: We need a new sheriff! "

john p wrote on Oct 11, 2008 6:20 PM:

" There is certainly no enforcement of laws concerning noise on S 92 in the county.There are cars and motorcycles running straight pipes and special modified mufflers you can hear a mile away. I have brought this up to deputies and been told justice court 5 Judge Dickerson would just throw them out if they ticketed them. So welcome to Cochise county “NASCAR” Some nights I can not sleep with the windows open. I fault the sheriff as they the noise makers could be charged with distrubing the peace. They is what they are guilty of. "

Fernando wrote on Oct 11, 2008 7:42 AM:

" Sheriff Dever chose not to enforce off road vehicle regulations in my neighborhood, because "it was better the kids were having fun and not getting in trouble." That attitude got two of those kids killed and has disturbed the peace in many neighborhoods. What other laws does Sheriff Dever not have enforced because it might bother some of his friends? "

ASK BP wrote on Oct 11, 2008 7:34 AM:

" CIVPOL - Sheriff will not allow backup for BP when they are iin need of assistance. He says he has money from Stonegarden and new budget started July first. BP backed Cloud. I have always backed the sheriff but this time I will vote for the democrat. "

CIVPOL wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:32 PM:

" Response to Pauly: In what ways does the sheriff not support the Border Patrol? "

Wake up wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:13 PM:

" Concerned citizen - it is time to wake up and see what is coming down the tracks at our current sheriff. "

Smoke and Mirrors wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:11 PM:

" Sheriff you know very good and well most, supoenas, writs and tort claims can be handled by the Constable. You simply choose not to do it that way. As far as the Jail is concerned you have had twelve years to do something. Now you blame it on the economy, very convenient. As far as deputies pay raises, you have not asked for them for the past two years and we are sick and tired of you taking the credit for it. Coverage in the outlying area is still terrible with response times over 24 hours. "

Pauly wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:44 AM:

" So you say there is a special relationship between the sheriff and other criminal justice agencies? Its a shame you don't support our Border Patrol like you should and thats why I'm not voting for you. "

Concerned Citizen wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:35 AM:

" I voted for you Larry. You are doing a great job for us. THANK YOU "