Sheriff David Rhodes is a 27-year veteran of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. He began his career as a volunteer and has been promoted through the ranks in positions of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Chief Deputy. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session #244, he served as Commander in both the Law Enforcement Division and the Detention Division of the agency, as well as serving as the Commander of the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy. He was elected Sheriff in November of 2020.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office mission is to enhance the quality of life in the county by working cooperatively with the public to prevent crime, enforce the law, preserve the peace, and provide a safe environment through education programs aimed at promoting community involvement and crime prevention education. With an area of 8,125 square miles the County is approximately the same size as Massachusetts.
Community participation in crime prevention is very high in Yavapai county, but Sheriff Rhodes stressed the importance of citizen participation and respect for our law enforcement teams. If you’d like to be more active in supporting local law enforcement, consider joining a Neighborhood Watch Program. Learn more here: www.ycsoaz.gov/community/Crime-Prevention/Neighborhood-Watch
Sheriff David Rhodes also spoke about the Prescott’s new Justice Center. The Prescott Criminal Justice Center will be an approximately 106,000 square foot facility and will include:
- A 152-bed adult detention facility.
- Two courtrooms for on-site court proceedings that will significantly reduce transportation to the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott.
- Supporting services including administration, medical, food service, laundry and building services.
- A co-located non-custodial mental health facility.
To read more about the ways that this center will REDUCE JAIL POPULATION - CUT COSTS - INCREASE EFFICIENCY visit: www.yavapaijustice.com
Sheriff Rhodes believes that arrests or incarceration shouldn’t be the only tools the office has in fighting crime. He was an an integral part in creating the revolutionary “Reach Out” program in 2018. Reach Out connects people with mental health diagnoses and substance abuse disorders to treatment at the time of arrest and following their release from the Yavapai County jail and reduce involvement in the justice system. After three years of study by NAU, data showed that there was a 10% drop in jail population and and over 40% decline in recidivism.
With all of the challenges that our county and nation faces, Sheriff Rhodes is optimistic and excited about the criminal justice and community action in the county. He encouraged us to stay civically engaged.
Art Harrington was relieved to share the news that the Rotaract Members have secured roundtrip tickets to Mexico and Kenya. This year we will be sending mobility equipment and Ambassadors Teams to Kenya and also to Central Mexico. Wish them well as they depart on July 12th for the Crutches for Africa program and on July 14th for the Crutches for Mexico program. Learn more about their work here: www.crutches4africa.org
Invitation to the Rotary District 5495 20-21 Year End Celebration and 2021-22 Governor Installation at the Wigwam Hotel
Saturday, July 10th 11am-2pm
This coming Rotary year, 2021-2022, Rotary President Shekhar Mehta is encouraging members to focus their efforts on empowering girls and ensuring their access to education, resources, services, and opportunities so that future generations of women leaders will have the tools they need to succeed.
“There are many issues that girls face in different parts of the world, and you as leaders will ensure that we try and mitigate the disadvantages [that girls] may have." — Shekhar Mehta, 2021-22 Rotary International President.
To register and for more Rotary inspiration, enjoy the Rotary District 5495 newsletter here: https://rotary5495.org/bulletin
