FLAGSTAFF — We are pleased to announce that beginning August 1, 2016 Jon Paxton will be assuming the position of Community Programs Planner for the Coconino County Sheriff’s. “Jon brings a lot of experience and positive energy to this position,” said Sheriff Bill Pribil. “We think he is a great match for our community and volunteer programs.”

Jon retired from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office in December 2015 after serving 24 years in patrol. Jon has always been recognized by this agency as being the model Community Deputy in his ability to relate to people, his de-escalation skills, for being a be a liaison for the community, and for living the mission of service to community. While his new role will be in a non-sworn capacity, his experiences from his many years of law enforcement and community service will definitely benefit the position.

Jon graduated from the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy in Dec 1991. In the early 1990’s, Deputies often were introduced to their career by beginning their assignment in our Detention Facility in managing inmates. In 1992, he moved to a field patrol position and was assigned as the Community Deputy for the Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon patrol district. He immediately established rapport with the community was unofficially, but affectionately known as the “Mayor of Oak Creek.”

Being the local deputy for Sedona and Oak Creek was no simple task. Oak Creek Canyon and the Sedona area receive over 3-4 million visitors a year. Jon’s skills in keeping the peace and reducing the impact of crime in Oak Creek are a testament of his great people skills. It was not uncommon for him to be the first Search and Rescue responder on scene and single handedly hike people safely out of their circumstances in the middle of the night.

In 2000 Jon graduated from the Basic Mounted Police School and became a leader in our Mounted Unit. He often rode Filly, a much loved mule, and participated in parades; mounted color guard; Search and Rescue; forest patrols for marijuana eradication; security patrols at the County Fair, rodeos, horse races, downtown events; valley bowl games; and for public relation events. He became a trainer for the Mounted Unit Academy.

Jon Paxton is the recipient of several awards, including the Fraternal Order of Police Officer of Year in 1991, Sheriff’s Office Achievement Award in 2003 for community policing, Elks Lodge #2291 Officer of the Year award in 2003, National Public Service Award 2003 for the Mounted Unit, CCSO Achievement Award in 2006 for his leadership during the Brins Fire in Oak Creek Canyon, and another National Public Service Award in 2015.

Jon Paxton was selected from a pool of over 30 applicants and competed with five others who were brought in for the interview, testing, and community forum process. He will be filling the Community Programs Planner position left vacant after the May 2016 retirement of Gerry Blair.

Jon will be responsible for the following programs: Neighborhood Watch, Community Emergency Response Teams, Citizens Police Academy, Volunteers in Policing, Woods Watch, our agencies presence at fairs and exhibitions, and other public and community outreach still to come. Please help us welcome Jon Paxton.