New Year’s Eve Multi-Agency DUI Task Force – Don’t Drive Under the Influence

Northern AZ Law Enforcement Agencies wish everyone a happy and safe Holiday Season. We want to remind you, as always our Officers, Deputies and Troopers will be patrolling 24 hours a day 7 days a week to keep our communities safe.

As New Year’s approaches, we know there will be many parties and festivities. We will have increased enforcement patrols during this busy time of the year. In addition, Law Enforcement in Northern Arizona will conduct a multi-agency DUI Task Force on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, AZ Department of Public Safety and Northern Arizona University Police will be participating. We will be posting several DUI trailers throughout the area where officers can take possible violators to gather samples of breath and blood draws if driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is suspected.

It is our hope that by publicizing this task force and advising the public of this event, people will be encouraged to not drive while under the influence. A taxi, Uber, LYFT, Shuttle or Designated Driver is a much cheaper and safer option than taking a chance of driving while intoxicated. In addition, NAIPTA will be offering free bus service on New Year’s Eve until 1:15 am.

Don’t take a chance of ruining your life or the life of someone else by driving intoxicated or recklessly. Being arrested for DUI is very a costly life event. If you are arrested and convicted of DUI, you can face a low-end cost of around $5000. That does not include missed time at work or with family. DUI results in mandatory jail time if convicted, with a minimum of one night in jail, and incarceration increases with severity of the crime.

Please take this time to prepare for your travel and other festivities. Help us keep everyone safe on the roads this New Year’s Eve.

Missing 14-Year-Old Found Deceased Below Horseshoe Bend Overlook

PAGE – – On Monday, December 24 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to Horseshoe Bend Overlook for a report of a missing 14-year-old girl. Her family had last seen her around 2 pm at the overlook and reported her missing around 4 pm.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue out of Flagstaff responded to search the area. Personnel aboard the DPS helicopter visually located the missing juvenile deceased at the bottom of Horseshoe Bend, approximately 700 ft below the overlook. Due to impending nightfall, rescuers were not able to recover her body that evening.

Sheriff’s Office SAR and the DPS helicopter returned the next morning and recovered the body of the girl on December 25 around 10 am. The girl’s body was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Flagstaff, AZ.

The family was visiting from the greater San Jose, CA area.

Initial investigation indicates an accidental fall; however, the incident is still under investigation and pending review by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet to be held January 12

PHOENIX — The annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, 11111 N. 7th Street in Phoenix.

The awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

This year’s award recipients, who were selected at the commission’s September 21, 2018 meeting, are:

  • Award of Excellence: Conserve and Protect Arizona (CAPAZ)
  • Youth Conservationist of the Year: Jacob Maher
  • Media of the Year: Mike Russell
  • Conservation Organization of the Year: Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation
  • Conservationist of the Year: Joe Miller
  • Natural Resource Professional of the Year: Kyle Spencer
  • Volunteer of the Year: James (Spud) Hester
  • Educator of the Year: Rebecca Bouquot
  • Mentor of the Year: Tim Denny
  • Advocate of the Year – State: Rusty Bowers
  • Advocate of the Year – Federal: Greg Sheehan
  • Business Partner of the Year: Patriot Ordnance Factory
  • Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year: Navajo Nation Hunter Education Team
  • Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year: Mike Hemovich
  • North American Model Commissioners Award: Paul Greer
  • ​​​​​​​Chairman’s Award: Salt River Project

Those interested in attending can download and fill out a reservation form and return with a check or cash to the address listed on the form. The cost is $65 per individual before December 31, 2018 and $75 after. Table sponsorships are also available. All RSVP’s are due by January 4, 2019.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission held its first annual awards banquet in 1991. Since then, a total of 391 recipients have been recognized with commission awards.