The Ajo District is a mini-law enforcement department within the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Being over 100 miles west of the main operations center in Tucson, Arizona, this district has additional responsibilities not associated with another district in the Department.

Ajo District Operations consist of the following:

• Uniformed Patrol
• Rural Patrol
• Mission Oriented Policing
• Criminal Investigations
• S.R.O.
• Communications
• Corrections
• Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers

This area of operations consists of patrolling the remote areas of the District. In addition to routine patrol, Rural Patrol deputies coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in the Ajo area concerning special operations in rural Pima County. Areas and locations of illegal activity are identified and special operations are conducted in the target areas. Rural deputies receive additional training in the operation of 4x4 vehicles and ATVs due to the ruggedness of the desert areas. These deputies are the first tapped when it is necessary to conduct a desert search and rescue mission. Rural Patrol deputies also assist Criminal Investigations to maximize the use of resources.

Mission Oriented Policing requires every activity be directed toward the fulfillment of our mission: To create a safer, more peaceful, and crime free environment for the people.

Mission Oriented Policing is the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s community oriented policing policy. In a partnership with the public, Beat deputies identify problems within the community, and then with citizens, develop solutions to resolve those problems.

The Ajo District is assigned one detective. The detective conducts follow-up on cases assigned to Investigations, and assists patrol as needed. The Detective handles the issuing of cases with the County Attorney and Grand Jury testimony for all of the District’s felony cases. The Detective is responsible for all property that is turned in as evidence or safekeeping; to include seized and impounded vehicles. The main Property and Evidence Unit, located in Tucson, provides long term storage and facilitates evidence processing by the Forensic Unit. The District Detective coordinates investigations with the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division for major crimes, teams from Tucson are deployed to assist in the investigation.

For many years the Ajo District did not have a School Resource Officer (SRO). Beginning with the 2006/2007 school year this has changed. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department was awarded a Federal Grant to field additional SROs, to include one assigned to the Ajo District.

The SRO program is a nationally–accepted program that places law enforcement officers in educational environments. The SRO is specifically trained to perform three roles: law enforcement officer, law-related counselor, and law-related education instructor.

Deputy Michael Seeley will be attending training for the Ajo District’s School Resource Officer position. Deputy Seeley’s duties consist of patrolling Ajo Public Schools and the surrounding area. The SRO program’s goal is to address the school’s individual needs for school safety and youth education, improve law enforcement at schools, and to enhance the relationship between students, teachers, and deputies. Deputy Seeley has an office on campus and is available to respond to any crisis situation that arises and act as a comprehensive resource for the Ajo Public School District.

The Ajo District Communications is unique from its counterparts in Tucson. Ajo District dispatchers function as both call takers and dispatchers. They perform communications duties for all emergency service responders in the Ajo area, to include the Why and Ajo Fire Departments, and Ajo Ambulance. They answer citizen’s calls for service, both emergency and non-emergency, and dispatch deputies, firefighters and emergency medical services to any type of situation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also receive wireless 911 calls originating in the Ajo area and from the Quijotoa Mountains westward. This area includes a large portion of the Tohono O'Odham Reservation.

Ajo dispatchers also enter all data record entries for the Ajo District. They also work in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies in monitoring frequencies and assisting with equipment and other law enforcement needs.

Ajo District Communications personnel provide the vital first link between citizens and all available emergency resources in the area. Their performance directly contributes to the safety and well being of the Department’s personnel and the area residents.

The Ajo District Adult Detention Center is located at the Ajo District office. Corrections personnel assigned to Ajo fall under the Patrol Division’s chain of command. A corrections sergeant, under the command of the Ajo District Commander, supervises the Ajo Adult Detention Center. This is a unique situation for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, but it provides for the most efficient corrections operations in Ajo, Arizona. The Ajo facility is a short-term detention facility that houses inmates on local Justice Court sentences if there are no medical or security issues.

Inmates booked into the Ajo Adult Detention Center are transferred to the Pima County Adult Detention Center’s main facility in Tucson in a matter of days. Inmate transfers between the two facilities are accomplished with a click of the mouse on the Detention computer system and, of course, the drive to Tucson.

The men and women assigned to the Ajo Adult Detention Center are dedicated to their mission: to provide safety, security, and welfare for inmates.

The Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteer program provides a means for citizens to become involved with the Department and have an impact on the level of services provided to the community. Currently there are 10 SAV working in the Ajo District. Services offered by the SAV include:

• Neighborhood Watch
• Home Security Surveys
• Video Identification
• Kid Care Photo Identification
• Crime Prevention Information
• "Are You Okay?" Program
• Fingerprinting

The “Are You Okay?” program is exclusive to the Ajo District. It is a computer based welfare check system that is monitored by the Ajo Communications dispatchers. The program is available to senior citizens who live alone or have serious medical conditions, and to the disabled or homebound living in Ajo and Why, Arizona. Subscribers to this service receive daily telephonic welfare checks. If telephonic contact is unsuccessful, a deputy is dispatched to the subscriber’s home to check on the welfare of the person. There is no charge for this service.

For additional information on SAV activities or programs, please visit our Volunteers page.