The Southern Area Command encompasses the County Supervisor District 2 region. The current Supervisor for District 2 is Thomas Thurman. Southern Area Command has over 3,000 square miles, split in half by the Bradshaw Mountain Range. Due to the vast region, the Sheriff's Office has separated the district in to two Area Commands for best response to the communities. It has been divided into six (6) sectors, three (3) on each side. Each area has an "Unmanned" substation for access by deputies and volunteers to process and document calls. Please see our substation listing for addresses and phone numbers.
SOUTHEAST AREA COMMAND
Lieutenant Marc Schmidt is the commanding officer for the Southeast Area Command. Lieutenant Schmidt has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1988. His primary responsibilities include the management of all field operations within the boundaries of the Southeast Area of this Supervisor District, Recruitment, Selection and Training and Volunteer Service for the Law Enforcement Services Division. The Lieutenant maintains his office at 13272 Central Avenue in Mayer. This office is open to the public during regular business hours.
There are five sergeants that report directly to the Lieutenant. Four sergeants, along with a squad of deputies are assigned to patrol various areas within sectors one, two and three.
FOREST PATROL. Deputies assigned to this unit focus on the law enforcement responsibilities of the agency in the rural and remote areas of Yavapai County. Forest Patrol
VOLUNTEER SERVICES. The Sheriff's Office has one Volunteer Coordinator that provides services to include recruitment, training and scheduled of various volunteer groups established in Yavapai County. Volunteers can provide assistance with the issuance of dog licenses, fingerprints Fingerprinting Services and reports for informational purposes.
RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING. Personnel assigned within this unit are responsible for screening all prospective employees and maintaining official training records for the Law Enforcement Services Division.
Recruitment personnel handle the advertising and announcements of any open positions, screening of applicants to include but not limited to background investigations, polygraph and psychological examinations, and all other aspects relating to initial employment and promotional advancement within the Sheriff's Office. The Employment Process
Training personnel are responsible for maintaining, monitoring and documenting training compliance for both civilian and certified employees. Proficiency and continuing education requirements are set by Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board for certified personnel, however proficiency training to respective fields of non-certified personnel are also very important to the agency and monitored closely by this unit.
Sector One includes:
The incorporated Town of Dewey-Humboldt with a population of just over 4,000 people. Dewey-Humboldt is the only incorporated area in all of Southern Area Command. The Town has contracted Law Enforcement Services through the Sheriff’s Office since July 2005. Dewey-Humboldt has a rich mining history and western flair. It is known as Arizona’s “Country Town”.
The residential communities of White Horse Ranch and Henderson Valley, both being subdivisions located off of Highway 169.
The small somewhat remote community of Cherry which lies between Highway 169 and Highway 260.
Sector Two includes:
The town of Mayer with a population of over 1,400 is Headquarters for the Southern Area and home of the Mayer Justice Court. Known as the “Heart of Arizona”. It was named after Joe Mayer who was born Joseph Hoffmayer. Mayer is known for its strong mining history.
Poland Junction used to be a railroad community but is now primarily a residential area.
Cordes Lakes is a growing community with a population of several thousand. Located at the Junction of Highway 69 and Interstate 17. The community is a host to truck stops, fast food and convenience stores for all the truck drivers and travelers as well as several small shops and businesses that serve the local residents.
Spring Valley is a primarily residential community where the area High School is and provides a small business district on the highway frontage. There is one of the Yavapai Court ordered schools for girls, the Spring Valley Academy.
Other points of interest include Arcosanti. Advertised as the city of the future, designers, builders and architects come to study and hone their skills. Orme, a community based around a residential college Prep School.
Sector Three includes:
The community of Black Canyon City. Another growing area due to its close proximity to Phoenix. On the Yavapai and Maricopa County border, this primarily residential area boasts a varied business district with grocery stores, restaurants and service related shops. Many of the residents work in the greater Phoenix areas and commute daily. The Sheriff’s substation located in the community which is in the Mayer Justice Court precinct.
Crown King is a small community located high in the mountains. This small out of the way area with hotel, restaurants and general store is a very popular recreational destination.
SOUTHWEST AREA COMMAND
Lieutenant Steve Francis is the commanding officer for the Southwest Area Command. Lieutenant Francis has been with the Sheriff's Office since 1984. His primary responsibilities include the management of all field operations within the Southwest boundaries of Supervisor District 2. The Lieutenant maintains an office located at 22591 Lookaway, Yarnell, Arizona. This office is not normally open during business hours, however some volunteer hours may be posted.
Lieutenant Francis is also assigned the responsibility of Commander to the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy.
There are two sergeants that report directly to the Lieutenant. These sergeants along with a squad of deputies are assigned to patrol various areas within sectors four, five and six.
Sector Four includes:
The communities of Yarnell, Congress, Peeples Valley, Stanton/Octave, Wagner, Walnut Grove and some unincorporated parts of Wickenburg.
Primarily residential, these communities have a long history and tradition of mining and ranching. There are still many active ranches and mines operating in this area. These are small close-knit communities with small populations under two to three thousand people in each.
Yarnell has the largest amount of commercial property with a grocery store, gas station, a few restaurants and some small shops. Yarnell Justice Court and a Sheriff’s substation are located just off of Highway 89.
There are several master planned communities in the works as well as some commercial growth. Highways 89, 93 and 71 provide major transportation arteries through out the area.
Sector Five includes:
The communities of Wilhoit, Kirkland and Skull Valley which are quiet ranching communities with very little commercial properties.
Sector Six includes:
The community of Bagdad with a population of approximately 3,000 is a copper mining town owned and operated by Phelps Dodge. Bagdad is a self sufficient community which boasts it’s own K-12 school district, a Basha’s Grocery store, four restaurants, seven churches, a medical clinic, convenience market, two gas stations, golf course, two bars, fitness center with racquet ball and roller hockey facilities, Bagdad Justice Court, county library annex, youth center, rodeo arena and corral facilities, archery range, four ball fields and a bass lake.
Hillside and Yava are small rural residential communities’ with a small school and a current population of a few hundred. This area is rich in history and has a military heritage going back to the civil war. Fort Date Creek was established to protect settlers and prevent the Confederacy from gaining a foothold in the territory.
As most of the communities in the Southern Area Command there is plenty of history and tradition in ranching, mining and railroads throughout this sector.
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