Poster Contest for Crime Victims’ Rights Week Offers Cash Prizes and Trophies to Creative High School Students
Posters must emphasize national theme of “Fairness - Dignity - Respect”

March 8, 2010

Holbrook, AZ — Creative high school students can win cash prizes and trophies by designing posters to celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 18-24. Prizes of $100, $50 and $25 will be awarded.

The poster contest is sponsored by the Navajo County Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN). Winners will be announced and awarded their prizes at ICAN’s annual Child Abuse Symposium in Holbrook on the morning of April 23.

“There is only one big requirement,” said Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon. “Each poster must be designed around the national theme of Crime Victims’ Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect. Aside from that, the poster can be any size or medium.”

Carlyon said additional information and entry forms are available from his office’s Victim Services Director, Evelyn Marez, at 524-4015 or evelyn.marez@navajocountyaz.gov. Entries must be postmarked no later than April 12. Posters must be mailed flat, with the entry form attached to the back, to Navajo County Victim Services, P. O. Box 668, Holbrook, AZ 86025.

“We’ll make good use of the posters by displaying them in the judicial wing of the county building as a reminder of the importance of crime victims’ rights,” Marez said. “If we get some exceptionally creative entries, we may even have them reproduced.”

Carlyon said the winning posters will also be on display at ICAN’s arts and crafts fair and car show at the Elks Lodge Field in Show Low on April 30 and May 1. The event will raise funds to help establish Family Advocacy Centers in Holbrook and Show Low to assist victims of child abuse and neglect and sexual assaults.

ICAN comprises Navajo County agencies and professionals with responsibility for responding to incidents of child abuse and neglect, as well as adult sexual assaults. Prizes for the poster contest are being donated by ICAN and the National Organization for Victims’ Assistance.

Navajo County Inter-Agency Council Has New Name, New Mission, New Sense of Purpose
Group seeks additional participants to assist victims of child abuse and neglect, adult victims of sexual abuse

February 24, 2010

Holbrook, AZ — At the urging of County Attorney Brad Carlyon, the Navajo County Inter-Agency Council (IAC) has adopted a new name and a new mission statement to better communicate the organization’s goals of assisting victims of child abuse and neglect, as well as victims of adult sexual abuse.

The IAC is now known as the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, or ICAN. ICAN’s new mission statement is “to improve the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk children through multi-disciplinary efforts that support the identification, prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect; and to provide advocacy and leadership for improved policy development, provision of services, public awareness, education and training for victims of child abuse and neglect and adult sexual abuse.”

“The changes in our name and mission statement reflect a fundamental change in ICAN itself,” County Attorney Carlyon said. “We want ICAN to become a proactive, county-wide resource for victims of child abuse and neglect and their families, as well as for adult victims of sexual abuse and their families.”

ICAN comprises Navajo County agencies and professionals with responsibility for responding to incidents of child abuse and neglect, as well as adult sexual assaults. What Carlyon describes as the current core group includes the County Attorney, the director of the County Attorney’s Victim Services Division, the prosecutor assigned to Domestic Violence Court, the director of the Navajo County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program for abused and neglected children who are involved in the juvenile courts, a representative of Child Protective Services (CPS), a domestic violence advocate from North Country Health Care, the social services coordinator for Summit Regional Medical Center, a representative from the Rainbow School’s special education program, a mental health expert from Community Counseling Centers, a representative of the law enforcement community, and Holbrook pediatrician Dr. Hannah Rishel.

“I have to single out Dr. Rishel,” Carlyon said. “She has been the backbone of ICAN since its formation.”

Carlyon emphasized that attracting new partners is one of ICAN’s goals. “Anyone involved -- directly or indirectly -- with issues of child abuse and neglect or adult sexual abuse is welcome to join ICAN,” Carlyon said. “We want this to be a true county-wide resource. As ICAN expands, so will the benefits to victims and their families.”

According to Carlyon, key projects in which ICAN is involved include organizing multi-disciplinary response teams to respond to incidents in the north and south county; finalizing “Child Abuse Protocols” and “Adult Sexual Abuse Protocols” to ensure that incidents are handled properly and sensitively; and establishing permanent Family Advocacy Centers (FAC) in the north and south county.

Carlyon said an FAC assists victims and their families by providing a central location for meeting with medical examiners, mental health specialists, victim advocates, CPS representatives, law enforcement representatives and prosecutors. “It’s a non-threatening environment that emphasizes reducing trauma to victims and their families,” Carlyon said.

“Family Advocacy Centers have proven their worth in Arizona and across the country,” Carlyon added. “There are 18 in Arizona, but there was none in the 21,000 square miles of Navajo and Apache Counties until Dr. Rishel got the ball rolling in 2008. We now have a bare-bones FAC, but we’re determined to expand and establish at least two fully-functioning centers that will eliminate the need for victims and their families to travel to multiple locations throughout the county and Flagstaff for services.”

The County Attorney said ICAN has been promised space for a south county FAC at the new Navajo County government facility in Show Low after the building has been transferred from the city and refurbished. North Country Community Health Care has set aside space for a north county FAC in their new facility under construction in Holbrook.

In the meantime, ICAN is looking for temporary facilities in both Show Low and Holbrook. “This is an opportunity for people to help with donations of money, furniture or equipment,” Carlyon said. “ICAN has a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation to accept donations, and we can promise that all donations will be gratefully received and put to good use to benefit victims.”

Carlyon said ICAN will be holding an arts and crafts fair and car show to raise funds for the FAC project on Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1. The event will be held at the Elks Lodge field on East Whipple in Show Low. Interested vendors can contact Donna Paquette at (480) 209-5186 or reach.me@frontiernet.net. Anyone interested in being recognized as an event sponsor should contact Aaron Uliberri at (928) 532-6045 or Art Bans at (928) 537-0756.

“We’re putting a lot of effort into this event and hope the community will rally around it,” Carlyon said.

An opportunity for interested persons to learn more about ICAN and its activities will occur on April 23rd, which is Friday of National Victims’ Rights Week. On that day, ICAN will hold its annual Child Abuse Symposium in Holbrook. Carlyon said more information about the day-long symposium is available from Victim Services Director Evelyn Marez at (928) 524-4016 or evelyn.marez@navajocountyaz.gov.

“We’re excited about the direction ICAN is going,” Carlyon said. “What we want to do now is communicate our excitement to those who share our vision and can become partners with us.”

Petition to Name Navajo County a “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area” Could Bring Major New Funding for War on Drug Trafficking and Abuse
County Attorney Carlyon and Sheriff Clark spearhead efforts to gain federal HIDTA designation

February 23, 2010

Holbrook, AZ — A coalition of almost all the federal, state, municipal and tribal law enforcement agencies with drug enforcement jurisdiction in Navajo County has petitioned for the county to be named a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) by the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which could bring major new funding for the county-wide war on drug trafficking and abuse.

Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon and Sheriff K. C. Clark spearheaded the petition. If the petition is approved by the ONDCP, Navajo County will join the eight Arizona counties currently in the Southwest Border HIDTA Arizona Region (Cochise, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma).

Created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998, the HIDTA program allows the director of ONDCP to name as a HIDTA any county with serious drug trafficking problems that harmfully impact other areas of the country. Being designated a HIDTA makes additional federal resources available to the county.

Joining the County Attorney and Sheriff in the petition were nearly every federal, state, local and tribal agency with drug enforcement jurisdiction in the county, including the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Navajo Nation, Hopi and White Mountain Apache tribal police departments, and the municipal police departments of Holbrook, Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low, Snowflake-Taylor and Winslow.

“Being named a HIDTA is never a sure thing, but we’re extremely optimistic our petition will be approved by the ONDCP,” County Attorney Carlyon said. “This has been a year-long effort and a really massive amount of work by many people.”

Carlyon said the petition went to the ONDCP with the unanimous support of the HIDTA Arizona Region Executive Committee and with strong letters of support from Arizona Senators John McCain and John Kyl and Arizona Representative Ann Kirkpatrick.

“The Arizona Region Executive Committee actually submitted the petition to the ONDCP on our behalf,” Carlyon said. “They were extremely helpful and supportive at every stage.”

Carlyon traveled to Washington to meet with McCain, Kyl, Kirkpatrick and their staffs and said that everyone recognized the benefits of bringing Navajo County into the HIDTA Arizona Region. “They were eager to help,” he said.

Sheriff Clark said the petition includes a $2.8 million funding proposal that would expand the drug-fighting capabilities of all the participating agencies. Approval would fund a new commander, sergeant and deputy for the Sheriff’s Office; new officers for the Holbrook, Show Low, Snowflake-Taylor and Winslow municipal police departments; new officers for the Navajo Nation, Hopi and White Mountain Apache tribal police departments; a new DPS officer; and two new prosecutors in the County Attorney’s office, one dedicated to the support of the county’s multi-agency Major Crimes Apprehension Team (MCAT) and the other dedicated to the prosecution of drug crimes. Approval would also allow the County Attorney to continue to fund two investigator/analyst positions that are now funded by short-term Department of Justice grants.

“We’re very proud of what MCAT and the other agencies have been able to accomplish by working together over the years, but approval of the HIDTA petition would truly be the dawning of a new era in our fight against drug trafficking and abuse,” Clark said.

Carlyon said the support of the BIA and the tribal police departments could be the key to the success of the petition. “When we first started exploring the possibility of becoming a HIDTA, what really caught the attention of the decision-makers in Arizona and Washington was the amount of tribal land in Navajo County,” Carlyon said.

Carlyon said Department of Justice studies have shown that highways and secondary roads through tribal lands near the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico have become increasingly attractive to drug traffickers. “The main corridors like Interstate 40 are so heavily policed that drug traffickers are looking for alternate routes,” Carlyon said.

“With the BIA and all the tribal police departments joining our petition, we were able to show the Arizona Region and the ONDCP that this is truly a united, county-wide partnership to stem the tide of drug trafficking and abuse,” Carlyon said. “More than half the land in Navajo County is tribal land, so it would have made little sense to submit a petition without the support of the BIA and tribal police. We’re very grateful for their support.”

Carlyon singled out Navajo County District I Supervisor Jonathan Nez as having played a key role in garnering the support of the BIA, the tribal police and other tribal officials. “The drug problem crosses all borders and affects all cultures,” Nez said. “If ever a problem cried out for close cooperation in enforcing the laws and finding solutions, this is it.”

If the petition is approved, Navajo County would be the only HIDTA county in northeastern Arizona. Sheriff Clark said the Arizona Region Executive Committee agreed that the inclusion of Navajo County would help plug a significant gap in enforcement.

“Navajo County is one of the main gateways to the Midwestern and Eastern drug markets,” Clark said. “When you look at a road map, you’re immediately struck by the number of routes available to drug traffickers through Navajo County.”

In a letter to the ONDCP that accompanied Navajo County’s petition, Arizona HIDTA Chairman (and Yuma County Sheriff) Ralph Ogden emphasized that the county “includes three Native American reservations, an Interstate Highway (I-40), and many secondary roads providing access to New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Approval of Navajo County as a HIDTA County would also allow them to benefit from Domestic Highway Enforcement and Native American Project discretionary funding.”

In addition to the increased manpower and equipment the HIDTA designation could bring, Clark said that becoming a HIDTA would also allow the participating agencies to tie into the Arizona Region’s Investigative Support Center and receive important information on a more timely basis. “Especially in the war on drugs, information-led policing is the key,” Clark said. “Drug traffickers are well-organized and sophisticated. To keep up with them, you can never have too much information. Becoming a HIDTA would greatly expand our information gathering and sharing capabilities.”

Carlyon said that he, Sheriff Clark, Supervisor Nez and Raymond Joe, newly elected Chairman of the Navajo Nation Public Safety Committee, will be traveling to Washington the week of March 15th to meet with key officials at the White House, ONDCP, Homeland Security Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs about the HIDTA petition and other opportunities for cooperation in law enforcement. Joe, who was elected Chairman of the Public Safety Committee at the February 8th meeting of the Navajo Nation Council, said he is committed to forging strong partnerships between the Sheriff’s Office, BIA and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety in matters of mutual interest like drug trafficking and abuse. Joining the group in Washington will be staff members from the Arizona Congressional delegation.

According to Carlyon, the fate of the petition may not be known for several months. “If we’re successful, you’ll hear me and Sheriff Clark shout from Shonto to Pinetop,” he promised.

Navajo County Joins the National Crime Map
Citizens now have free access to official crime data through the CrimeReports website and iPhone app

February 22, 2010

(Holbrook) — Navajo County residents looking for more information about crime and safety in their community will now be able to, thanks to a new partnership between The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and CrimeReports, creators of the National Crime Map, at www.CrimeReports.com.

“Providing reliable, timely information to our citizens is one of our top priorities,” says Sheriff KC Clark. “Partnering with CrimeReports gives us the ability to keep the public informed on a regular basis as to what is going on in the community.” Clark added that the public can access the crime map 24 hours a day through the website or through the CrimeReports iPhone app, available for free download in the online Apple iTunes store. The new service even lets local citizens sign up for free customizable email alerts, so they can stay on top of crime in their neighborhood.

County Attorney Brad Carlyon joined Sheriff Clark in supporting the new program. “This is just the latest example of Sheriff Clark and my efforts to strengthen public safety in Navajo County. We hope that giving the community this information will help them prevent crime in their neighborhoods.”

“Navajo County is a leader in law enforcement innovation,” says Greg Whisenant, founder and CEO of CrimeReports. “They are demonstrating their commitment to the community, to proactive policing, and fiscal responsibility.”

Navajo County is joining a list of nearly 700 other law enforcement agencies of all sizes across North America who are sharing their crime information with the public through the map, like Baltimore, Boston, San Jose, San Francisco, Portland, Washington D.C., Los Angeles County, as well several communities in Navajo County, including the City of Show Low, Town of Snowflake, and Town of Taylor.

Residents can access their local crime map and sign up for daily, weekly, or monthly email crime alerts at www.CrimeReports.com or at Navajo County’s website at www.navajocountyaz.gov

Emergency Preparedness for the week of February 1, 2010

February 2, 2010

Another snow storm is scheduled to hit the Navajo County area delivering rain and snow. Forecasters are anticipating up to 7” of new snow in higher elevations and increasing mud in some parts of the county.

Navajo County Emergency Management is encouraging all citizens, including residents of the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe to be prepared by having enough food, water, medicine and heating fuel for the next few days.

As we have learned from the last major storm system communication is extremely important. Please take a few minutes to discuss with family, friends/neighbors and loved ones to be aware of how you are doing. Also, remember to keep your cell phone charged and a traditional land-line telephone.

You are encouraged to keep abreast of this snow storm by listening to locally broadcasted news and weather or by calling Navajo County’s Emergency Management Hotline at 928-524-4200, option 3. Weather and other emergency services information is also available on the County’s website at www.navajocountyaz.gov.

For more information review the link below as the Arizona Division of Emergency Management has prepared a brochure on helpful tips in the event of an emergency: www.dem.azdema.gov/operations/docs/pubs/brochures/preptips.pdf

The National Weather Service forecast information at: www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/

Thank you and please be safe.

Navajo County Deactivates Emergency Operations Center

February 2, 2010

Holbrook, Arizona — Navajo County will deactivate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) effective today, February 2, 2010 at 4:00 p.m., returning to non-emergency business as usual status.

Navajo County Emergency Management will keep a telephone line available for calls from residents reporting property damage in the un-incorporated areas of Navajo County. The number is: 928-524-4790. Please note a voicemail has been set up with this number for residents to report damages caused by the severe snow storm beginning January 21, 2010.

For Damage Assessment information, if you reside within a town or city boundary (non-tribal jurisdictions), please call:

Please have as much information as available about the damage you may have sustained during the recent storms. The following information is needed to report any damage related to this storm (not pre-existing damage or deferred maintenance):

• Name of owner
• Location/address and telephone number
• Residential or commercial
• If residential, indicate whether it is a primary or secondary home
• Brief, but good description of damage
• Whether or not the owner has insurance
• Ballpark estimate of the cost of repairs

Tenney, DeSpain meet with U.S. Sec. of Agriculture and Congresswoman Kirkpatrick to discuss Forest Initiative

February 2, 2010

Holbrook — Capitalizing on months of research and collaboration, Navajo County Supervisors David Tenney and JR DeSpain joined local elected officials, Forest Service officials, forest health experts, and state policymakers in a historic gathering with Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to promote the Four Forest Initiative—a multi-party effort designed to restore northern Arizona’s forests on a landscape scale.

“This was a extraordinary moment in the history of northern Arizona’s forests,” Supervisor Tenney declared. “The presence of the Secretary of Agriculture was a clear sign that the Four Forest Initiative is gaining momentum and national attention. We are grateful for his support.”

Held in Christopher Creek on Saturday, January 30, the meeting featured presentations from community leaders and forest experts on the benefits of the Initiative, which calls on the Forest Service to dramatically increase the number of acres available to private industry for thinning and treatment. The Initiative would triple or even quadruple the acreage being treated in northern Arizona’s forests each year. The Initiative would also potentially lead to the creation of as many as 600 jobs as a result of the demand for additional facilities to process the harvested wood into a marketable product.

Representing the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), Supervisor JR DeSpain thanked Kirkpatrick and Vilsack for their support of the Initiative. “All 22 cities and four counties in northern Arizona have endorsed this plan,” DeSpain said. “The community support behind this is unprecedented.”

Tenney and DeSpain were joined by a host of environmental groups, forest health scientists (including NAU Professor Wally Covington), industry representatives, and elected officials from Flagstaff to Greenlee County. All present expressed their conviction that the Four Forest Initiative is Arizona’s best opportunity to restores the state’s forests, prevent large-scale wildfires, and create jobs.

State Senator Sylvia Allen (R-Snowflake) who sponsored a measure expressing the state’s endorsement for the Initiative last year, was present at the meeting and emphasized the state’s support. “This is a great opportunity for northern Arizona. The State of Arizona is looking to the Forest Service to get this done.”

Secretary Vilsack was impressed by the show of support. “We want to be supportive,” Vilsack declared. We believe you’re on to something that has more than just a regional significance here in Arizona.”

Congresswoman Kirkpatrick thanked the Secretary for his presence and expressed her hope that the Initiative would serve as an economic engine for northern Arizona. “This is a model not only for restoring the forest, but creating jobs as well.”

Arizona Food Bank Contributes to Operation Winter Storm

January 31, 2010

Holbrook, Arizona — Humanitarian efforts continue throughout the Navajo Reservation and the Hopi Tribal Land. Crews are actively distributing food and supplies to villages and chapterhouses for residents impacted by the recent winter storms. To contribute to the relief operation St. Mary’s Food Bank is donating a semi truck load of non perishable food items.

Food bank representatives will depart from Phoenix early Sunday to be at the Incident Command Post in Holbrook first thing in the morning. Crews with the Arizona State All Risk Incident Management Team in Holbrook will organize distribution via Arizona National Guard trucks to the seven established stockpile locations: Kayenta, Pinon, Tuba City, Dilkon, Window Rock, Chinle, and Kykotsmovi. Residents can contact their chapterhouse or village for details.

Emergency Supplies Available for Distribution by Chapters
7 locations throughout the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe provides a central location for supplies

January 30, 2010

Holbrook, Arizona — Operation Winter Storm with the assistance of Navajo, Coconino, and Apache counties along with the Navajo Nation Emergency Management and the Hopi Tribe Emergency Management has established several stockpile locations for food, water, and heating fuel supplies. These locations are Kayenta, Pinon, Tuba City, Dilkon, Window Rock, Chinle, and Kykotsmovi.

Residents will receive supplies from the stockpile locations listed above, distributed by their chapter or village. Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe residents who have been negatively impacted by the severe snow storm starting January 21, 2010 should contact their chapter or village for necessary supplies.

The National Guard has been providing direct assistance to the chapters or villages by transporting the necessary emergency supplies from the Flagstaff and Holbrook area to the stockpiles. For this mission, the National Guard is unable to provide delivery services to residential sites.

It is requested that if residents are stranded or need emergency help please call your local Police Department for assistance or contact the Navajo Nation Emergency Management office at 928-871-6892 or -6892.

Navajo County Begins Conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments

January 29, 2010

Holbrook, Arizona — Navajo County, Cities, and Towns will be working together to provide the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) with preliminary damage assessments in the recovery after the onset of the severe snow storm.

The first step is to compile a complete assessment list of all known reports of possible damage. Navajo County’s Emergency Management team stated they have contacted the cities, towns and public agencies and requested for them to assemble the information they have received and also to go out in the community and provide assessments. Navajo County will forward all assessments to ADEM officials, who will use the information to identify locally damaged areas that will need to be prioritized and assessed in more detail.

For Damage Assessment Information for the citizens in non-tribal jurisdictions, please call:

Please have as much information as available about the damage you may have sustained during the recent storms. A good description, photos, and cost estimates are very helpful. The cities and towns as well as the county will be assembling this information for the state.

The State of Arizona has activated the State Emergency Call Center in support of affected counties across the state, and to help facilitate the recovery process. The information provided by callers is important to the Major Disaster Declaration request process. It is used to determine State eligibility for federal assistance.

The State urges citizens with questions about the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process and reports of disaster-related damage to call the State Emergency Call Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and on weekends. The statewide phone number is 1-877-464-1144.