Bisbee Jail Chaplain Doug Packer, age 63 was arrested and booked into the Cochise County Jail early this Sunday morning on charges of Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, and Unlawful Sexual conduct in a correctional facility.
According to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday January 4, Cochise County Sheriff’s command staff received a report about an inmate claiming that an inappropriate incident had occurred at the Bisbee jail involving Packer.
Sheriff Mark Dannels ordered an investigation to determine the facts in the allegation. Sheriff’s detectives conducted interviews in the evening hours and served a search warrant on the Packer residence in Sierra Vista late Saturday night.
Sheriff Dannels said his “disappointment is indescribable. Dannels stated that the Office “will always do what is legally and morally right to protect those we serve. I am dedicated to safeguard our criminal justice system and will always work to protect crime victims.”
“No one is above the law and our employees are always held to a higher moral standard because that is the oath each took and they have pledged to serve and protect, not sometimes, but always.”
Dannels continued, “Chaplain Packer was in a position of community trust and based solely on his actions and poor decisions, he violated his sacred oath of office and took advantage of those who truly depend on him in their time of need.”
Packer had an initial appearance in Justice Court this weekend where a $25,000 bond was set.
The investigation is being continued by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 520-432-9500.