In a move to strengthen law enforcement capabilities in the face of spiraling smuggling cases, Arizona has deployed the National Guard to lend a hand in Cochise County. According to a report by ABC15, seven National Guard members are already assisting the Cochise County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), with two more set to join them in the coming week.
"We’ve been asking the federal government for help for a while and the state stepped up and helped us," Cochise County Jail Commander Kenneth Bradshaw told ABC15. The guard's presence comes as a relief to the overburdened local law enforcement, facing a jail population where 45% have committed border-related crimes. Dispatched by Governor Katie Hobbs, the troop's mission is not only to aid in administrative duties but also to espouse a sense of safety by allowing staff more time with inmates.
With the average length of stay in jail rising from 24 hours to six days, the National Guard's role is pivotal. They're handling tasks such as logging, phone answering, camera monitoring, and door operations, as reported by ABC15. Although these soldiers are prohibited from direct inmate interaction, their assistance enhances the overall efficiency of the beleaguered sheriff's office.
The state's proactive stance also extends beyond the jail walls. Addressing a different dimension of the border crisis, the Herald Review reports that 32 Guard members were drafted to elevate border surveillance. Their roles are diverse; while 22 of them will keep watch over the Buckeye cameras, majorly to manage the tide of undocumented migrants, the rest are to augment staffing at the jail.
In light of federal inaction, Governor Doug Ducey branded the situation a crisis, stating, “This lack of action defies all logic, and flies in the face of the law. This administration is asleep at the switch, and their total lack of action is having real consequences here in the state of Arizona,” as he declared a state of emergency and sent the National Guard under State Active Duty. Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels echoed the sentiment, "It's frustrating because, during the State of the Union, Biden did not talk about border security," he told the Herald Review. Both state officials advocate a tougher stance against illicit border activities dictated by cartels.
The deployment appears indefinite, providing Cochise County with the additional resources it desperately requires for an ongoing dilemma. Neither ABC15 nor the Herald Review could confirm when the National Guard members would conclude their tenure, but their current involvement signifies a staunch commitment to addressing Arizona's border challenges.
