Sheriff discusses county's growth, law enforcement needs
 
By Stacy Brandt
Tri-State News Online
 
BULLHEAD CITY - The county will need a new jail soon because of its rapid growth, according to Sheriff Tom Sheahan.

The county jail houses about 550 people a day and only has about 400 beds, Sheahan said Saturday morning at the monthly meeting of the Colorado River Republican Forum.

About 9,000 people were jailed in the facilities this year, compared with 6,900 in 2002.

With a growing population comes more crime, Sheahan said.

"There's a lot of work to do, because we have a big future here in Mohave County and a massive influx of people," he said. "Unfortunately not everyone that moves in to the county is going to be a law-abiding citizen."

It can be difficult to patrol the entire county, Sheahan said, because of its size and the number of deputies available.

"We have to concentrate a minimal amount of officers that we have throughout the entire county," he said. "That's what makes it a real challenge every day."

Sheahan said the substations in Mohave Valley and Lake Havasu City also need to be replaced. The Mohave Valley station can now only house about 20 inmates.

Recently the office has focused more on traffic enforcement because of citizens' complaints. The number of tickets issued increased from 4,500 in 2003 to about 10,000 last year, Sheahan said, while the number of collisions resulting in injuries went down. DUI arrests were also up last year to 446 compared with 221 the year before.

Though arrests involving methamphetamine are up in the area, the number of drug laboratory cases is down to 15 or 20 a year, compared with about 50 in previous years. More of the drug is being imported from Mexico, Sheahan said, so the Sheriff's Office is working closely with the Drug Enforcement Agency to try to control the problem.

Sheahan also discussed polygamy and child abuse in Colorado City, calling the struggle to stop the situation a drain on county taxpayers. The Sheriff's Office is now in charge of child abuse cases there instead of local authorities.

"We have to be flexible; we have to be adaptable," Sheahan said. "We have to be able to go with what's happening at the time and prepare as best we can for the future."
 
mohavedailynews.com
Originally published Saturday, March 5, 2005
 
Back