A Holiday Safety Message from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office
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As Thanksgiving approaches, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office wants to remind residents that the holidays are a time for family, gratitude, and celebration. However, they also bring increased risks due to travel, shopping, and busy schedules.
Sheriff Mark Dannels and the dedicated members of the Sheriff's Office encourage everyone to prioritize their health, safety, and well-being during this festive season.
Thanksgiving Day: At Home
Thanksgiving is the busiest cooking day of the year. Never leave cooking food unattended, especially when frying or using the stovetop. Keep children and pets away from hot surfaces and sharp utensils. If using a turkey fryer, use it outdoors on a stable surface, never in a garage, and ensure the turkey is completely thawed and dry. Check smoke alarms, keep a fire extinguisher handy, and cook turkey to 165°F.
The holidays can also bring stress and fatigue. Rest, stay hydrated, and check on elderly neighbors or those living alone. A phone call can make a difference for someone experiencing grief or isolation. If you drink, do so responsibly and never drive impaired.
Holiday Travel: Arrive Safely
Thanksgiving brings heavy traffic, rural roads, changing weather, and wildlife in Cochise County.
Allow extra travel time and avoid aggressive driving. Wear seat belts and secure children properly. Never text and drive, and never drive impaired by alcohol, drugs, or medications. Watch for wildlife at dawn and dusk, check road and weather conditions, and carry water, a charged phone, and emergency supplies. No dinner or bargain is worth risking a life.
Black Friday: Shop Smart, Stay Safe
Crowded stores and parking lots create opportunities for theft. Stay alert.
Park in well-lit areas, be aware of your surroundings, and avoid distractions on your phone. Shop with a friend after dark, have keys ready, and lock your vehicle. Never leave it running.
Protect your purchases. Never leave bags, electronics, or purses visible in your car. Put items in a locked trunk before your next stop. Avoid large amounts of cash, keep purses secured, and monitor bank accounts for fraud.
For online shopping, buy from reputable retailers. Beware deals that seem too good to be true, and don't click suspicious links from texts or emails. Never share banking information or verification codes with unsolicited callers.
Package Deliveries: Stop Porch Pirates
With more online orders, packages on porches become easy targets.
Track deliveries and sign up for notifications. Retrieve packages promptly, use lockers or secure boxes when available, and ask a trusted neighbor to help if you're away. Consider a doorbell camera, and request that deliveries be placed in a less visible location.
Beware of delivery scams. Fake messages about a failed delivery often contain links to steal information. Verify directly through the retailer’s official app or website. If you see suspicious activity, report it and do not confront a suspect.
Home Security & Community Awareness
Before leaving home, lock all doors, windows, and gates. Don’t advertise extended absences on social media, use automatic lights, and ask a neighbor to watch your property. Don’t leave holiday purchases visible through windows or in vehicles in the driveway.
Community safety is shared. Watch for unusual activity around vehicles, mailboxes, and homes. Look out for older adults who may be targeted by scams. If you see something suspicious, report it. For emergencies, call 911.
From Sheriff Mark Dannels and the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, we wish you a safe, healthy, and Happy Thanksgiving. Stay safe, stay alert, and look out for one another.
Safety guidance: U.S. Fire Administration, CPSC, and Federal Trade Commission.
Cochise County Is Ready To Ride With Purpose
It is not just the rumble of engines that returns to Cochise County on Saturday, November 7, 2026. It is the feeling that comes with it.
For 14 years, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office Charity Ride has turned a day of exploring our backroads into something much bigger: neighbors helping neighbors, and money raised right here staying right here.
This is not a poker run that writes a check to a national organization and calls it a day. Every dollar raised at the 14th Annual Charity Ride goes directly to local people doing good in the community.
This year, six outstanding organizations will benefit:
Just Kids, Inc. – giving children in Cochise County a safe place, a voice, and a path to healing.
Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Foundation – opening doors to education and leadership for young women in our community.
Warrior Healing Project – standing with our veterans when they need support the most.
Earn Your Spurs, Inc. – pairing youth with horses and teaching responsibility, confidence, and compassion.
Benson and Douglas Shop With A Cop – making sure every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated during the holidays, with a badge beside them.
That is what your ticket supports. Youth, veterans, education, animals, and families who just need a helping hand.
Ask anyone who has been before, and they will tell you the Charity Ride is about much more than motorcycles and side-by-sides. It is about community. It is about deputies, riders, families, and business owners lining up side by side for the same reason. It is about knowing that every raffle ticket you buy and every sponsorship you make turns into real help for someone in Sierra Vista, Benson, Douglas, or just down the road.
And yes, it is also a great day to ride.
Organizers are planning new routes this year that will take riders through some of the most beautiful and wide-open country Cochise County has to offer. Think rolling grasslands, mountain views, and those long stretches of Arizona sky that remind you why you live here.
The ride will finish at Ed Morse Nissan, 2960 E. Fry Blvd. in Sierra Vista, where the celebration continues with live music, food, and the Charity Ride's legendary raffles. If you have never seen the raffle tables at this event, get ready. From custom gear to big-ticket prizes donated by local businesses, people come early just to get a look.
Whether you ride or just want to come support, you are welcome. Bring the family. Bring a friend. Bring your love for Cochise County.
The 14th Annual Cochise County Sheriff's Office Charity Ride is Saturday, November 7, 2026. It is a day to enjoy the ride, enjoy the music, and give back to the community we proudly serve and call home.
Want a sneak peek at the raffles and route details? Follow the Cochise County Sheriff's Office Charity Ride on Facebook for updates.
Ready to ride for a cause? Get your tickets today at Cochise.az.gov/sheriff.
Let us make this year the biggest year yet for our kids, our veterans, and our neighbors.
Behind the Badge: Back to School- Building Safer Schools and Stronger Community Connections
As students across Cochise County return to classrooms, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office is proud to join families, educators, administrators, and community partners in welcoming a new school year. Back to school is an important time for learning, growth, and new opportunities, and it is also a time to renew our shared commitment to keeping students safe.
Over the past several weeks, members of the Sheriff’s Office have participated in back-to-school events throughout the county and visited rural schools in person to welcome students and staff back. These visits are about more than security. They are opportunities for our deputies to meet young people, listen to educators and families, and build positive relationships that help create safer, stronger communities.
One of the most important safety reminders as school begins is simple: Stop for school buses. When a school bus is stopped with its warning lights and stop arm activated, drivers must stop and remain stopped as required by law. A few extra seconds of patience can protect a child who is crossing the roadway. We encourage every driver to slow down, watch carefully for buses and students, and make school-zone safety a daily priority.
Our School Resource Officers (SROs) also play an important role in school safety. Their responsibility extends beyond responding to emergencies. SROs build relationships with students, interact with youth, support school staff, and serve as familiar, trusted faces within our schools. Those everyday connections can make a meaningful difference in helping students feel safe and comfortable speaking with law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office is also grateful for our continued partnership with the Cochise County School Superintendent’s Office. Together, we are working to strengthen school safety through cooperative projects, preparedness efforts, and programs designed to support schools throughout the county. The County’s School Safety Consortium, established in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office, reflects this commitment to prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Just as importantly, we recognize the vital role our teachers and school staff play every day. They are not only educators; they are trusted mentors and community leaders who know their students and understand their schools. Working alongside them allows us to identify concerns, share resources, and strengthen safety efforts.
As another school year begins, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to being present, accessible, and engaged. Whether we are greeting students at a rural school, attending a community event, working alongside an SRO, or partnering with educators on a safety initiative, our goal remains the same: to strengthen relationships and help every student in Cochise County learn and thrive in a safe environment.
Sheriff Mark Dannels said, “I want to thank Adriana Romero for her vision and hard work in putting together this new publication in our area and for inviting the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office to be a part of it. We are excited about this opportunity to connect with our community in a new way. Each month, we look forward to sharing what’s happening within the Sheriff’s Office, highlighting the work of our dedicated men and women, and keeping you informed about the issues that matter to Cochise County. We appreciate Adriana giving us this opportunity, and we look forward to joining you each month.”
We wish all of our students, families, teachers, and school staff a safe, successful, and rewarding new year!