Although a recent anthrax scare at the Navajo County complex in Holbrook turned out to be the result of an employee accidentally coming into contact with drywall dust, law enforcement took the threat seriously and responded accordingly until it was determined that there was no actual threat.
Some critics questioned the likelihood of an attack on a small rural government facility and whether the response was justified. County Attorney Brad Carlyon and Holbrook Chief of Police Mark Jackson each explained the handling of the incident, noting that it is the duty of law enforcement and emergency response personnel to protect the safety and welfare of all citizens.
“We must take these threats seriously,” Carlyon said.
He explained that although Navajo County may not be an obvious target for terrorists looking to make a statement on an international level, domestic terrorism is a threat for every government agency. According to Carlyon, domestic terrorists are typically mentally ill, and may choose their target based on perceived wrongs, not on the size of the facility or whether it is a major political target.
“We only need to look at what has happened to Mary Rose Wilcox and Gabby Giffords,” he remarked.
Carlyon went on to explain that Navajo County employees have been the victims of threats in the past, including a pipe bomb threat to Judge Jay Abbey, a staff member being followed by gang members, numerous threats to Sheriff KC Clark, and a prosecutor who resigned after a hit was put out on him by a prison-based gang.
“These are just the ones that jumped in my head,” he said. “Understand that we are at risk because of what we do to serve the public.”
Carlyon noted that many of the situations encountered by law enforcement and court personnel, as well as those sometimes handled by other departments, are emotionally charged for the individuals involved, and there is always a risk that a mentally unstable individual could choose to take his anger or frustration out on county staff.
He explained that he supported and was proud of the way the incident was handled, both by law enforcement and county staff. According to Carlyon, staff members remained calm and continued on with their work while also assisting law enforcement to minimize the risk of the potential threat.
“I am proud of the reaction of our employees and the response we received from those in the public safety field,” he said.
Chief Jackson noted that he was also proud of the way his officers and those from other agencies handled the situation. He explained that the temporary quarantine of the county complex was the best way to protect county employees and the rest of the public until a determination of the actual threat could be made.
“Our department takes it very seriously. Anthrax is spread by air, and we know it caused some inconvenience and some upset, but we would rather handle it that way than find out we’ve allowed a serious risk to our community,” he said. “We should be proud of our city employees and the way they handled it.”
