On Tuesday June 7, 2016, members of the ranching community within Cochise County met near Douglas and were given radios as part of a new project developed by Sheriff Mark Dannels called Radios for Ranchers. Dannels developed the idea for the project and after several months of developmental program reviews which identified a specific radio that would be most efficient for rural areas and a dollar amount.
The Sheriff was able to procure funding through a private foundation to make it a reality.
Members of the ranching community were given an overview of the program and the opportunity to opt in and receive a new radio. There were forty radios available and thirty one were assigned to local ranchers.
The program consists of large signs that are to be placed on the rancher property advising that they are part of the Ranchers Network and Patrol Partnership, and a handheld radio with pre-defined frequencies which connect to one another or to the Sheriff’s Office Communications Center. The specific purpose of the program is to allow ranchers working in the most remote areas of Cochise County to be an extension of our eyes and ears and to be able to immediately and directly report any suspicious or unusual activity in their respective areas, most of which do not have cell service.
The radios were issued to the ranchers with instructions on how they are to be used and how to care for and maintain them. There was no cost to the ranchers and the program overview resulted in positive feedback.
Sheriff Dannels said, “This program is just another extension into our “neighborhoods” that proves our professional commitment to keep our citizens safe on the border. We anticipate that this program, being one of a kind, will only strengthen the bond of trust between all law enforcement and our ranching community, and we hope to alleviate any other tragic incidents such as the Krentz homicide. We cannot stress enough how thankful we are to the foundation who provided the funding for this program and for the brave men and women who make up the heart of Cochise County, both those who are residents and our personnel. We anticipate adding to this program and we look forward to another successful project.”