Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon and Navajo County Sheriff KC Clark were joint recipients of the Arizona Capitol Times Leader of the Year in Public Safety Award. The two were honored in front of their peers at the 10th annual Leaders of the Year in Public Safety Award Ceremony held Oct. 13 in Phoenix.
“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award, but it’s the incredible team I have around me that allows me to receive such recognition,” Sheriff Clark said. “Sharing this moment with County Attorney Brad Carlyon is not only a personal achievement, but it demonstrates that our public safety officials are doing all we can to keep our communities safe, and we’re doing it the right way. I am humbled and honored by this recognition.”
Though it is not an industry standard to award two men the same honor, the partnership between the Navajo County Sheriff and Attorney’s Offices makes it difficult to honor one of the officials without also acknowledging the leadership and achievement of the other.
“This award doesn’t just show that our Attorney’s Office is doing our job well, but that our county’s public safety as a whole is doing our job well,” Brad Carlyon said. “It’s a great honor to receive this award, and I am glad to have Sheriff Clark recognized as well. The partnership of our offices has ensured the safety and well-being of our communities has been and will remain our top priority.”
Each year, Arizona Capitol Times selects 17 recipients from the field of public safety around the state to receive the annual honor during an award ceremony in October. According to their website, the honorees are chosen for “how they positively influence public policy for the betterment of all Arizonans.”
“This just goes to show the quality of public safety officials we have in Navajo County,” Navajo County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jason Whiting said. “You’d be hard pressed to find two officials more dedicated to their positions than these two, and I am glad to see them both be recognized for their hard work and dedication to the people of northeast Arizona.”
Amongst their peers in the field of public safety, this award came as no surprise to officials who consistently work with the Navajo County Sheriff and Attorney’s offices.
“I’m happy to learn of Sheriff Clark and County Attorney Carlyon being recognized by the Arizona Capitol Times as the Leaders of the Year in Public Safety,” Arizona Department of Public Safety District III Commander Gary Phelps said. “During my brief time in Navajo County it has been refreshing to see the level of inter-agency cooperation fostered by both Sheriff Clark and County Attorney Carlyon. It’s been a pleasure working with both leaders over the past year, and I’m not surprised to learn of their recognition. The Arizona Department of Public Safety shares the selection committee’s admiration for their contribution to public safety. I congratulate both of them on this award.”
