Tag Archives: County Attorney

County Attorney respond to death of George Floyd

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COUNTY ATTORNEY BILL RING’S RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD

FLAGSTAFF — ) With regard to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

As the County Attorney of Coconino County, a land with great diversity of peoples, I condemn as intolerable the disgusting abuse we see in video and news media coverage of the death of George Floyd. Mr. Floyd should never have lost his life that day. Our shared Constitutional right to due process assured him that he would live through a compliant encounter with law enforcement. Except as we all have seen, trust in the equal application of that promise was tragically broken by
callousness and plain old deplorable meanness.

The fair administration of justice requires that the Minneapolis District Attorney and the Minnesota Attorney General review all the available evidence such as civilian videos, body-worn police cameras, eyewitness statements, statements from the officers if they choose to give them, and a complete forensic autopsy. The weight of the evidence will dictate those who are accused and their charges, along with the course of prosecution in pursuit of justice. The process of criminal justice is deliberate for a reason. We must seek what is true by way of what is correct so that the result is complete and the answers we learn are the basis for the restorative work ahead of us.

And yet there are the many peoples’ collective history of long walks and painful experiences that drive civil protests. Protestation and righteous discontent have been the driver of change in our democracy. I respect the right to grieve. Grievance can be uncomfortably loud at times and nonetheless be completed peacefully. I have always been proud of our community’s abilities in this regard. But like Dr. King, I do not condone violence. Mr. Floyd’s ultimate legacy will be a national commitment to improve our attitudes on race and justice, law enforcement training and performance review, and our commitment to achieve equal justice for all.

STATEMENT FROM COCONINO COUNTY ATTORNEY BILL RING

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“Coconino County, in partnership with local, state, and federal partners is actively working to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The health and safety of our residents is our top priority.

Preserving justice and public safety are critical aspects of our community response. Justice and the sense of basic fairness that we all share is what binds us together. There are hundreds of courtrooms around Arizona, from small towns to large cities, and from small counties to the Arizona Supreme Court. Included among these is the Coconino County Attorney’s Office, composed of 22 attorneys and 25 support staff. As civil servants, we serve the interests of Justice and Liberty in our communities, our County and in the State of Arizona.

In difficult times such as these, prosecutors are challenged to consider what justice and fairness require of us under the circumstances. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency and the Arizona Supreme Court and our local Superior Court have crafted Administrative Orders to provide the necessary procedures of judicial administration to protect our staff and the public, but that do not alter the meaning of Justice.

The County Attorney’s office will alter some procedures to include:

  1. Reducing, for a limited time, the number of individuals coming into physical contact with the criminal justice system. Cases and interests will be addressed virtually, through all available technologies.
  2. Enhancing our collaborations with law enforcement, the courts, defense counsel, probation departments, and especially the victims of crime.
  3. Protecting our most vulnerable citizens.

The role of Prosecutor is an honorable one, and a critical position occupied continuously by caring people. We take public welfare seriously. We, the prosecutors of the Coconino County Attorney’s Office, wish you good health while we fulfill our public duty.”

Coconino County Attorney Citizens Academy planned for June 12

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Attorney has ten spots left for the June Citizen Prosecutor Academy one day program. The Academy provides citizens with information concerning the operation of the office of the County Attorney.

The event will be held June 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is held in the CCAO Humphreys Room. The application to attend can be downloaded here. Completed forms can be faxed to (928)679-8201, or mailed to Coconino County Attorney’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Or, contact Tami
Suchowiejko at (928)679-8229 or email tsuchowiejko@coconino.az.gov.

“We’re excited to continue our academy which brings the community into the office to share information, exchange ideas, and facilitate a better understanding of how the County Attorney’s Office serves the public. It’s also a lot of fun”, said County Attorney Rozema

There is an Advanced Citizen Prosecutor Academy that is also held throughout the year. Those who attend this Academy are invited to attend the Advanced Academy.
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County Attorney announces citizen prosecutor academy

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FLAGSTAFF—The County Attorney has announced the next no-cost Citizen Prosecutor Academy. The academy will be held Friday, June 7, 2013 from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

This could be the start to your legal career. However if you plan to pursue a career in this area you can expect a little more schooling at a little more cost. This course gives citizens an idea of how the court system works in general terms. “Participants will gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of real-world prosecution and the responsibilities of the Coconino County Attorney’s Office,” the press release states. These classes fill up quickly so it is recommended that you sign up soon if you are interested.

Tami Suchowiejko, coordinator for the academy at the County Attorney’s office, said that they prefer participants be over 18-years of age because of the graphic nature of some of the content of the course.

“We’re excited to continue our academy which brings the community into the office to share information, exchange ideas, and facilitate a better understanding of how the County Attorney’s Office serves the public. It’s also a lot of fun”, said County Attorney Rozema.

The academy presenters include various experts from the Coconino County Attorney’s Office as well as other professionals from the criminal justice system. Participants will learn how criminal cases are handled from intake/grand jury through trial. They can also expect presentations from the County Medical Examiner and a Criminalist from the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab.

To get an idea of what the course entails, you can see the previous academy agenda. If you are interested in participating, you can download an application to fax to (928) 679-8201 or mail to Coconino County Attorney’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

The County Attorney’s office also holds an advanced version of the academy for graduates of this course.