Sierra Vista Company

Rangers' leader sees reward in serving community


By Amanda Baillie
Herald/Review
 

SIERRA VISTA - He has suffered a major heart attack and is a cancer survivor, but nothing seems to keep Mike Dennis down.

The grandfather's determination and positive attitude when faced with adversity are no doubt just two of the qualities that have just seen him voted in as the Arizona Rangers' Sierra Vista Company Commander for the sixth year running.

His dedication to the voluntary group, the biggest of 12 companies in the state, also has seen him awarded the honor of becoming a lifetime Arizona Ranger, which means he gets to keep his captain's badge - the highest rank a Ranger can achieve - when he leaves.

Dennis is passionate about the Rangers, which he joined in 1999 before being promoted to commander just six months later.

"I've been involved in plenty of community service organizations, but this is the most rewarding kind of community service that I've done," he said.

"I could still be a very productive citizen by joining a committee, attending monthly meetings and collecting money, but in the Rangers I get to interface with the public, youth, local organizations and law enforcement agencies. It's just so different."

The Arizona Territorial Rangers were formed in 1901 to clean up the lawless territory, which was looking to become a state.

Once this was successfully achieved, the Rangers, in spite of their efforts, were disbanded just seven years later.

In 1957, with the help of the original surviving members, the nonprofit organization was re-established and has been going strong ever since.

Today its role is multi-faceted and includes supporting law enforcement agencies, working with young people, providing security at private and public events, and preserving the history and traditions of the original Rangers.

They are easily recognizable in their stark, black uniforms and Western-style hats, but, Dennis stresses, they are not an aggressive group.

"We do not have any powers of law enforcement. We are there as backup or as a visible presence," said the former soldier, who now owns a real estate company. "We're friendly forces and not associated with any kind of vigilante groups. In Arizona the good guys wear the black hats."

One of their most recent assignments saw 33 members of the 35-plus strong company sworn in as Tombstone deputies by the local marshal to assist with the registration day of the Minuteman Project.

They also found themselves, at short notice, providing the security for a Stephen King movie being filmed last year in Bisbee.

And they regularly assist the South East Arizona DUI Task Force.

"Probably the most satisfying thing we do is helping to get a drunk off the streets," Dennis said.

Every member of the Rangers, male and female, is highly trained when it comes to weapons, undergoing strict background checks before being accepted.

They have evolved into an armed organization, but only once has a Ranger had to fire his gun.

"Rangers always work in pairs, and in 1992 two of them walked into an armed robbery at a local bank and one of the Rangers was murdered. His partner fired back," Dennis said.

"When you put on the uniform you assume a lot of responsibility. It's dangerous, expensive, time-consuming and often inconvenient."

The Sierra Vista company donated more than 8,000 hours of manpower last year alone - way more than any other company in Arizona.