The sheriff’s offices of Navajo and Coconino counties recently aligned in a joint Air Operations Division partnership.
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors last week granted Sheriff K.C. Clark approval to co-lease flight time at the rate of $85 per hour flown plus actual fuel and operating expenses for two fixed-wing light aircraft operated by the Coconino Sheriff’s Office Air Operations Division.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office launched its Air Operations program in 2010 as a time and cost-effective means of transport in search-and-rescue, inmate extradition, drug surveillance and emergency law enforcement missions. The air operations program is funded primarily through a grant by the Northern Arizona Metro Board and with Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) funds, which are generated through asset seizures from drug and street crime interdictions.
Sheriff Clark said he was pleased with a similar partnership utilized with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. He entered into the recent agreement with Coconino County Sheriff William Pribil earlier this year and said the alliance will present significant advantages for Navajo County.
“We used Yavapai County aircraft to monitor (forestry) fire restrictions last summer, and the efforts worked out very well. Right now we spend about $90,000 per year transporting inmates, about $45,000 in state and $45,000 out of state. Last week we used aircraft to fly inmates to Tucson. We dropped one off and picked one up and were back here in the county before noon, so it’s very efficient. I believe in the long run it will cost us less money; we will put fewer miles on our transport vans, and reduce overtime and per diem travel expenses.”
The air operations aircraft, a four-seat Cessna 182 and a six-seat Cherokee 6-300, cruise at approximately 150 mph and have a range of 700 miles with full fuel load. As an example, Clark said typical ground transport to Tucson from Navajo County can require 10 to 12 hours of travel time round-trip.
Clark said that Air Operations Division resources will also be utilized for Navajo County Major Crimes Apprehension Team (MCAT) surveillance and search-and-rescue operations. “The great thing is that it is paid for through RICO and Criminal Justice Enhancement funds, and Navajo County Search and Rescue fund donations, so no general fund monies are associated with this,” he said.
While law enforcement missions are given first priority under the program, the sheriff said provisions will also be made to accommodate the transportation needs of elected officials, such as to government-related meetings at the state capitol.
“We’re going to try it for one year and see how it works out,” he said. “Even if it saves $10,000, that’s a lot of money in today’s world. My time and running the agency efficiently are valuable to me. And time is worth money.”
