New law enforcement facility in works for town
 
By Dave Hawkins
Las Vegas Review-Journal
 
KINGMAN, Ariz. -- Mohave County and the state of Arizona are working together to establish a joint law enforcement facility in Colorado City, home to a religious sect that preaches polygamy.

The town drew national attention after the January ouster of Mayor Dan Barlow and about 20 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by the church's so-called prophet, Warren Jeffs.

The county Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to use as much as $200,000 to place a modular facility on land that will be leased from the community college at the southern edge of town.

The town is in a sparsely populated area of northern Arizona, a good distance from many public services.

County Manager Ron Walker said the building could be ready for occupancy within 90 days.

It would provide working space for sheriff's deputies and county attorney's office personnel investigating allegations of the abuse of women and children, and forced marriages of underage girls to older men in the predominantly polygamous community.

Representatives of the Arizona Child Protective Services and attorney general's office will also reserve space in the facility.

"We're sending a message to every part of Arizona that we are all part of a state, and there's no section or corner that you can run to to escape the law," said Richard Travis, director of communications for the attorney general's office.
 
reviewjournal.com
Originally published Wednesday, January 28, 2004
 
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