Snowflake-Taylor Police Chief Larry Scarber reviewed some of the activities, accomplishments, ongoing projects, events, challenges and needs of his department as he made a year-end report to the Snowflake Town Council last month.
“An agency’s greatest resource is its personnel,” said the chief. The Snowflake-Taylor Police Department includes 13 full-time sworn peace officers plus a cadet officer currently training at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in Phoenix, two sworn reserve officers, one animal control officer, five full-time dispatchers, two part-time dispatchers, an administrative assistant and four dedicated volunteers, and is in the process of hiring an additional full-time dispatcher.
To date, the department has been involved in 9,301 incidents during 2016, a decrease from 12,742 in 2015. These break down to 6,235 calls for service and 3,066 officer initiated incidents, which include 1,751 traffic stops. Officers completed 905 reports, including 92 collision investigation reports. Officers made 258 misdemeanor arrests and 136 felony arrests, and issued 1,335 citations, of which Chief Scarber said most were for traffic, but some were felony.
The department investigated no homicides, no rapes (this category does not include sex crimes), no robberies, 44 aggravated assaults, 60 simple assaults, 43 burglaries, 110 larcenies, nine stolen vehicles and six arson fires.
The reported value of property losses through burglaries and thefts, including motor vehicle thefts, totaled $247,741. The value of property recovered was $112,674 for a net loss of $135,067.
Chief Scarber briefly discussed accomplishments of the department.
The Guardian mindset has been a regular topic in department meetings, so to this end they have begun Blue Courage training for civilian and sworn personnel. Lt. Bobby Martin has received instructor training and coordinated the inaugural class held at Northern Arizona Training Center (NATC) in July. You can read more about this program in the State of the Department report by Chief Scarber on the town’s website.
Tying closely into the Guardian philosophy are the recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. A task force of recognized law enforcement practitioners and academics came up with six pillars of policing, with accompanying recommendations for each pillar. More information is offered in the State of the Department Report.
The department has transitioned from .40 caliber handguns to 9mm handguns. Previously, employees were required to purchase and maintain their own handguns. By reducing the amount of uniform allowance received by sworn employees and by spreading the purchases over two fiscal years, the department purchased new Glock 9mm handguns for each officer.
Scarber said that last year when the Snowflake and Taylor town councils voted not to join the regional dispatch model it was recognized that the dispatch center needed to be upgraded. Through some ingenuity and connections Chief Scarber had, the department upgraded the equipment, which involved rewiring the entire system. This was done at great savings by Public Works employee Will Wilson. The conversion is nearly complete, and will result in greater efficiency and provide a long-term solution to dispatch equipment needs, according to the chief.
Chief Scarber also talked about ongoing projects. One is training officers in the use of Narcan to counteract the effects of opioid overdose. This is due to the increase in heroin use, which has grown to epidemic proportions in the United States, largely a product of prescription pain medication abuse. Dr. Chad Brimhall has agreed to issue the standing orders for use by police officers.
STPD will continue to participate in the Navajo County Major Crime Apprehension Team (MCAT), which assists in area drug investigations.
The department purchased a new generator through a local vendor because the old generator failed after many years of service. This will be installed after dispatch upgrades are complete.
With the assistance of the public works department and volunteer labor as part of an Eagle Scout project, the Animal Shelter will be improved. It will allow dogs to spend some time outdoors, improving the well being of the animals and facilitating thorough cleaning of the kennels.
The department does have challenges, including illicit drug trafficking and use, domestic violence, mental health issues and a naïve/innocent population, explained the chief.
