Sierra Vista Company

Company Report for 2002

Law Enforcement:

DUI Task Force: It should be noted that when Sierra Vista Company supplied Arizona Rangers are deployed on DUI Task Force operations, Arizona Rangers may be used in a variety of roles. Prisoner escort, booking room security, and check point duties are possible. However, the major role during DUI Task Forces is to ride along with the officers from many law enforcement agencies, accompanying them throughout the night... serving as their backup.

Special Operations: A bit slower than last year, we nonetheless participated in one homicide scene, one Meth Lab, and one S.W.A.T. operation. We also assisted in the Huachuca Mountains, during a Search and Rescue operation, when  subject "staged" his death, driving his pickup truck off of the road, leaving it hanging far down on the mountainside, and then sneaking out on foot as the search proceeded. He was subsequently apprehended by CCSO Deputies. Tragically, we also participated in a Search and Rescue operation in the Huachuca Mountains, when a 20-year-old male disappeared  from the Carr Canyon Waterfall. During the night, a Border Patrol and a DPS helicopter assisted in searching the area below the falls, using their agility and bright spotlights. The young man had fallen nearly 600 feet, dying instantly. Arizona Rangers secured the scene until a Recovery mission was accomplished shortly after dawn.

Forest Fires: Three separate forest fires resulted in a total of seven "call-outs" for our Company. The most major of the fires, the Ryan Fire, required us to do traffic control, interdicting civilian traffic, while allowing emergence vehicles the access they required. We also hand-delivered pre-evacuation notices to large communities, and actual evacuation operations in small "hot" pockets. This fire actually began in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz County called for backup from CCSO, who immediately mobilized us. We worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Santa Cruz County and Cochise County Deputies, until the fire raced through Fort Huachuca, threatening Huachuca City. D Arizona Rangers fight fires? You bet we do! We do not operate hoses, fire trucks or shovels... but make no mistake: Everyone involved in these fires did their part, preventing unnecessary loss of life and property.

Community Support: Serving such diverse organizations as the City of Sierra Vista, the Sierra Vista Rotary Club, the Huachuca Art Association, the Cochise County Fairgrounds Association, and dozens more, our Company performed in excess of 10,000 duty hours , in 2002. During our busy season (February through November) it is not uncommon to have as many as 24 Arizona Rangers deployed simultaneously, in a variety of missions and locales.

Sergeant John Thomas Memorial Plaque: On July 21, 2002, on the tenth anniversary of his death, we commissioned the production of a metallic "replica" of the commemorative plaque dedicate in 2001. Sergeant John Thomas, the only modern Arizona Ranger to be killed in the line of duty, was a member of our Company, and now will forever grace us as a Member in Memoriam.

Miss America Support: Elsewhere on this site is the story of Laura Lawless, Miss Arizona 2002. Our Company materially aided her during a visit to Sierra Vista, as she suffered and attack of appendicitis. She went on to finish in the top 15 of the Miss America 2002 Pageant.

Moving Viet NAm Wall: We were honored to provide security for the Moving Viet Nam Wall during its 11-day visit to Sierra Vista. Arizona Rangers are not configured to operate long-term missions. Instead, we are ideally suited for short-term, single or multiple operations, and then we go back to our "day" jobs. However, we provided 24-hour, seven days per week coverage until the wall departed for its next presentation. Exhausted, but very satisfied, we said "adios" to this symbol of over 58,000 Americans who gave their lives serving a nation that is only now showing its gratitude. For all Viet Nam Veterans, I invite you to read Retired US ARMY Chaplain, Major Stan Copeland's remarks. He delivered his stirring speech on the day of the closing ceremonies.

Company Activities: With a full schedule of training and more duty than the law allows, the Company has grown, and has implemented policies that assure excellence. We established the following:

Company Infrastructure: In addition to owning a functioning Command Post, for long-duration events, we equip each Company member with the following:

Community Involvement: We are members of, or have given speeches to:

Volunteer Hours: With a healthy increase in staffing (+25%) in 2002, the Company became increasingly involved in the totality of its missions. Increasing from 7000 hour to over 10,000 hours of combined duty, training and administrative hours, a staggering 43% increase, the Company and its members were progressively tasked. And they performed splendidly!

Coordination: Our Commander,  and Training Sergeant meet with the following, often on a weekly basis:

Web Site: In November, 2001 we launched our Sierra Vista Company web site. Informative and fun, it is now, and will always be, in a state of upgrade. Nonetheless, you may learn some things of interest. To date, over 7,000 visitors have browsed our site. Please visit us at: Sierra Vista Company Web Site

Coronado Company: Whew! With over three hours separating Sierra Vista from Duncan (Greenlee County), it was challenging to help start this Company and get them up to speed. Thanks to Captain Jim Edgerton and his wife, Ranger Jan Edgerton, the Company is well established.

Douglas Company: A year of effort resulted in the successful launch of the Douglas Company. It is difficult to imagine a community showing any more support than has the city of Douglas. The Douglas PD and the Douglas CCSO Substation have welcomed this Company with open arms. They appreciate the help that this Company currently provides and the support it will provide in the future.

We support the fine reputation of the Arizona Rangers and work proactively to make it better. We are succeeding.