ARIZONA RANGER
NEWSLETTER Spring 2022
Few but proud, then and now
VETERANS DAY Sun Lakes Company participated in several Veteran?s Day ceremonies and honor guards in and around the Sun Lakes area. Sun Lakes Company, comprised of multiple veterans, is dedicated to honoring and thanking all military personnel who served the United States.
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General Membership Meeting Social Media Best Practices Committee Updates Company Highlights
SPOTLI GHT
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How the Rangers became an irreplaceable force multiplier for a local Police Department. p. 16
STATISTICS
CONTENTS Highest Award. . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Committee Updates.. . . . . . . Page 10 - 14 Company Articles. . . . . . . .. . Page 15 - 25 Ranger Capri . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 30 - 31
ARIZONA RANGERS WWW.AZRANGERS.GOV EDITOR@AZRANGERS.GOV
TOP PRODUCERS 2021 Clearly t hese Rangers are com m it t ed t o serving law enforcem ent and t he com m unit y. M OST WORK HOURS
1. RON GOLD (1,673) 2. JAMES HOWE (1,155) 3. TERRY RIPPSTEIN (1,012)
M OST DUTY HOURS
1. JAMES HOWE (873) 2. TERRY RIPPSTEIN (605) 3. N ICK POULOS (603)
M OST COM PANY HOURS
1. LONESOME VALLEY (9,971) 2. TUCSON (7,894) 3. EAST VALLEY (7,780)
M OST M ILES DRIVEN
Collectively these three Rangers drove enough miles to go around the earth 1.5 times! It would take an original Ranger 7+ years to cover that distance on horseback. 1) M IKE PENNEY (15,291 MILES)
2) SCOTT JARVIS (11,954 MILES)
3) STEVE BUCK (10,041 MILES)
M em ber sh ip
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* as of March 2022
THE GENERAL M EM BERSHIP M EETING
Group photo from the General Membership Meeting that was held on Saturday, September 25th, 2021
State Recruiter Lt. Michael Reeves gives the recruiting report.
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"Ranger Capri" Iverson was sworn in as an Honorary Ranger.
EVERYONE LOVES A HERO It is easy to take for granted the value of the service you provide. Rest easy and know you are appreciated. While standing with a group of first responders and elected officials at the Blessing Breakfast in Tucson, our Public Information Officer heard one of them say something to the effect of: "All of us can find the words to define a hero. Our definitions may vary a bit, but essentially a hero is someone who risks their own health and safety, for the benefit of someone else. We might all have different levels of heroism too. Consider the case of police or military personnel who risk their lives on a daily basis to help someone they do not know. Now consider the isolated case where a civilian pulls a person out of a burning car. Both are heroes, but do you consider one more heroic than the other? In today's society, police officers and other first responders are often targeted for violence. Because the Arizona Rangers put on a uniform, a badge and a gun, you too could be targeted. It does not matter if the duty itself is very low risk. The fact that you volunteer to do it, without the protection of workers compensation if you are injured, makes all of you heroes in my book." 3 3
THE RANGERS' HIGHEST AWARD THE RARE "DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (WHEELER AWARD) IS AWARDED TO RANGER AFTER HE ASSISTS A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY DURING STRUGGLE
While off duty, Sgt. Raikkonen was the first on the scene of a serious one-vehicle accident. Raikkonen threw on his Ranger traffic vest, took control of the intersection, and began searching for victims. Witnesses said the driver had fled the scene on foot. Shouts of "he needs help, he needs help!" drew the Rangers attention across the street where he saw a Pinal County Sheriff 's Deputy fighting with a large man. He later learned this was the driver who had fled the scene of the accident. As others stood by, Sgt. Raikkonen ran to assist the deputy. As he approached, he could see only one handcuff was applied; the open end was a dangerous weapon. After announcing himself as an Arizona Ranger, the Deputy accepted Raikkonen?s offer of assistance. Sgt. Raikkonen wrapped his arms around the suspects legs and took the fight to the ground. Raikkonen controlled the suspects waist and body, as the deputy struggled to apply the handcuffs. The suspect was under the influence of a strength enhancing substance, and they could not secure the other handcuff until another deputy arrived. The suspect was placed face down in the back of the cruiser, but the fight was not yet over. The suspect began kicking violently and was a danger to himself and others. Sgt. Raikkonen crawled into the back of the cruiser and controlled the suspect, while the deputies applied leg restraints. Afterwards, the deputies expressed how extremely grateful they were to Sgt. Raikkonen. Without his help, it is possible the deputy would have become exhausted before help arrived. Certainly, there was potential for serious bodily injury or loss of life. The body camera footage of the incident circulated throughout the Pinal County Sheriff 's office. This enhanced the image of the Arizona Rangers organization far beyond the few people directly involved in the incident. Sgt. Raikkonen received the Rangers' highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal - Wheeler Award, for his actions. To illustrate its prestige, an exhaustive search of our records indicate this may be the only Wheeler Award ever given in the history of our organization. Congratulations to Sgt. Raikkonen for a job well done!
The Distinguished Service Medal, aka Wheeler Award, is the Rangers' highest performance award. 44
FROM THE DEPUTY STATE COM M ANDER GROWTH AND PROSPERITY ? As we look back at the previous year, we can all reflect on the restrictive and depressing times in our nation. With our nation in turmoil, most Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA?s) have suffered a significant reduction in force. Unable to recruit enough new officers, they are unable to respond to certain situations. Many crimes are ignored so police can respond to priority calls. Serious capacity issues forced several LEA's to contact the Arizona Rangers for help. The timing was perfect, and the Arizona Rangers had more capacity to help than ever before. Public support for law enforcement contributed to record growth within the organization. At the same time, the pandemic shut down several of the duties the Rangers normally performed. Now, Ranger Companies throughout the state are supporting these LEA's. As a result, our organization has gained additional growth and prosperity within our communities. Our rapid growth and increased responsibility requires good leadership. For much of the past decade, stagnation and lack of organization plagued our all-volunteer organization. Through continued perseverance and good leadership, our organization has turned this around. It begs the question "what makes a good leader?" "There is no room for ego in a great leader" A good leader has many qualities, and they create the culture of the organization. They create a safe work environment so everyone can focus on the organization's goals, and not self-preservation. They recognize someone for a job well done, and do not take unearned credit for themselves. When needed, they provide corrective action privately. A good leader accepts responsibility for everything under their command and does not blame others. There is no room for ego in a good leader. Recognizing they do not know everything, they seek the advice of others. A good leader leverages individual talents and puts the right people in the right places. They bring out the very best in everyone and earn the respect of their peers. We are all members of the same organization, and we swore an oath to act in the best interest of the organization. A large part of our responsibility is electing good leadership. The annual election is upon us, and we will be selecting five members of the Board of Directors (and the Ranger of the Year). Please keep these leadership attributes in mind every time you vote for any position at State or Company level. Remember everyone has a voice in this organization and everyone deserves to be heard. In closing, I would like to thank everyone for the support as I served as your Deputy State Commander for the past three years. Together we can grow, prosper and continue to strive for higher achievements. Stay safe, protect each other and always "check your six". May the Lord bless and protect you and your family members. 55
Lt . Col. Rich Lockery Deput y St at e Com m ander
NOTE OF INTEREST CHARGE THE STORM When a severe winter storm approaches, most animals move away from the storm to avoid it. Ultimately, it catches up to and overtakes them. They are then subjected to being in the storm longer and spending more energy battling the elements. The American Bison (aka Buffalo) are quite different. At the first sign of an approaching storm, they walk directly towards it. As the storm nears, they charge directly into it. For the Buffalo, the storm passes more quickly, is less severe and they are better able to weather the storm.
Th e n ext t im e you f ace a ch allen ge, r em em ber t h e bu f f alo an d ch ar ge t h e st or m !
Lt. Steve Lewis of Madera Company relates an interesting personal story. Prior to joining the Rangers, Lt. Lewis served active duty with the US Navy. In 1990, he completed his Navy Instructor Training. His first assignment was to teach the AN/BQQ-6 sonar suite maintenance and operations course. One of his students was a new E-4 named Steve Broner. Over the years, their paths crossed many times, and they shared their last assignment together at Submarine Development Squadron Five. After 31 years of service, Lewis retired and moved to Green Valley, Arizona. He joined the Arizona Rangers in 2019. Coincidentally, his former student and fellow sub mariner, Broner, moved to the Phoenix area when he retired. Broner also joined the Arizona Rangers, and was sworn in on February 14t h . They will continue to serve together, more than 30-years after they first met.
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FUN STUFF Original article from August 1908. By all accounts the outlaw Bill Downing was hated by most. Even members of his criminal gang could not stand him.
A current Ranger had this picture taken in 1974. It looks like he wanted to be a Ranger at an early age. Do you recognize him?
Zon a Cof f ee Com pan y
Arizona-based Zona Coffee Company has named and dedicated a blend of coffee in honor of the original Arizona Rangers. The owner, Jason, is retired law enforcement and supports all first responders. His website indicates a portion of all Ranger blend sales "go directly to support their mission.? 7
TRUE STORY While working a Pumpkin Patch event, mounted Yuma Company Rangers spotted a young woman running in a full panic well south of the event. They quickly rode in her direction and spotted a vehicle fire 400 yards away. The fire department had been dispatched, but they could not see the fire from their location. The mounted units quickly led emergency vehicles to the fire and provided perimeter security. Their well-trained horses maintained their composure despite the sirens, smoke, fire, spraying water, popping, and hissing noises coming from the fire. Strong work, Yuma Company!
ELECTIONS & VOTING Arizona will elect a new Governor on November 8, 2022. As we are aware, all elections have consequences and this one could not only affect each resident with the State, but also the Arizona Rangers organization. We are asking all members to review the issues and make an informed decision on who to vote for. Does the candidate support the Arizona Rangers? Does the candidate promote or suggest changes to the makeup and mission of the organization? What about State funding? These are among the questions that you need to answer. Bu t m ost im por t an t ly ? Go Vot e! We have just completed our annual election process within the Ranger organization ? hopefully everyone participated, and whether they felt they won or lost, will continue to support the mission and goals of our organization.
VOTING TRIVIA In 1872, Victoria Woodhull, became the first of more than 200 women who have run for President in America. In 1870, backed by railroad tycoon Vanderbilt, she and her sister became the first women to open a stock brokerage firm. They used their profits to bankroll a controversial newspaper, supporting causes like legalized prostitution and free love. Woodhull?s enemies had gotten the better of her, and she spent her Election Day in jail for publishing an article that accused the popular preacher Henry Ward Beecher of adultery. She was eventually acquitted of all charges, moved to England and married a wealthy banker. 88
LESSON FROM THE CHEETAH Every non-profit organization, including the Arizona Rangers, must operate like any other for-profit business. To be sustainable, the Arizona Rangers Organization and all of its companies must have positive cash flow and generate excess revenues. We must effectively manage our operations, human resources, marketing and finance departments. Every Company operates like a franchise. The more efficiently each Company operates, the more resources they will have to benefit their respective communities. During the past two years, COVID-19 has changed many facets of business operations, including ours. People often discuss the need to ?pivot? or ?shift? now, but it is nothing new. The ability to recognize and adapt to significant changes in the environment has always been critically important. Consider this example: Blockbuster video was once the global leader in the video rental market. Changes in technology allowed for online video streaming. Netflix saw this as an opportunity and began operations. By the time Blockbuster recognized the threat, it was too late. Overnight, the industry leader was gone and a competitor that never existed emerged in their place. To illustrate this point further, consider the following analogy. In nature, a lucky spider spins its web under a porch light. Every evening the light attracts bugs, many of whom get caught in the web. The spider does not have to work too hard; its dinner just shows up. The spider gets complacent and lazy. Then the bulb burns out and the bugs do not come. The spider goes hungry night after night. It fails to adapt to the change in its environment and eventually the spider dies. Meanwhile, on the plains in Africa, a smart cheetah lies in wait near the water hole. Hundreds of animals must come to drink each day. The cheetah has many opportunities to eat and rarely goes hungry. Then the water hole dries up and the animals stop coming. They have migrated to a new watering hole several miles away. The cheetah realizes the environment has changed and it tracks the animals. Once it reaches the new watering hole, the cheetah lies in wait and has many opportunities to eat. The cheetah survives and thrives because it adapted to change. When the economy is good, it is easy to get complacent and expect business to continue. COVID-19 has dimmed the lights and dried up the watering hole for many businesses. Those who adapt effectively will survive. Think about your company for a moment. Are you operating more like the spider or the cheetah? What changes can you make to capitalize on the opportunities COVID-19 has created? If you need help, tune in to the next Ranger Newsletter to learn specific opportunities any company can easily capitalize on. 99
SOCIAL M EDIA REPORT This year has been extremely busy in the realm of social media and community relations. High-profile duties and have thrust us into the limelight, including making national headlines. The most notable of which was the ballot audit duty, which generated significant global exposure. Most people expressed positive feedback and support, but there was a splash of negativity noted. The recent media exposure has created incredible momentum, and more eyes are upon us than ever before. It is our time to shine, highlighting the positive difference we make in the community. Social media is a double-edged sword. It is a powerful tool that can benefit us and bring attention to our mission and purpose. It can also magnify shortcomings or mistakes, negatively impacting the organization for years to come. It is important to remember we all represent the Arizona Rangers, and our purpose is to preserve and enhance the reputation of the organization. Everything we do is under the public microscope. If in doubt, always consider the following when it comes to what you post on social media. 1. Does this post reflect the values, traditions, rules, and regulations of the Rangers? 2. Is this post contributing in a positive manner to the overall mission of the Rangers? 3. Would I like this to be front page news? We are all ambassadors of the organization, as WE are the Arizona Rangers. We each have a responsibility to bring credibility, integrity, and honor upon the Rangers. Remember, the social media and uniform policies were created to maintain quality across all facets of the Rangers, from every corner of the state. We should be able to work with any Ranger from any company and look, act, and represent the Rangers uniformly and consistently. Always think twice before posting on social media, do not talk to the media and be reserved in expressing your role as a Ranger. Remember, everyone has a camera and screenshots of posts can haunt you for years after you delete it. Do not do anything that will get you on the front page or make you a viral video star. Thank you for all you do, We Are Arizona Rangers. Lt. Robert Shirey State Social Media Officer 10
PUBLIC INFORM ATION REPORT Since no Public Information Officer (PIO) report was delivered at the last General Membership meeting, allow this to suffice. This past year (2021) may be the single best year for positive press and public relations the Arizona Rangers have ever seen. Certainly, the exposure and opportunities are unprecedented. The initial exposure came from news stories on television, radio, newspapers and virtually every social media platform like Facebook and Twitter. In the beginning, the press inaccurately portrayed the Rangers in a negative light. These were from media sources influenced by bias and opposed to law enforcement. That initial negative exposure led to tens of thousands of private conversations on multiple online forums. Millions of people from across the globe began asking "who are the Arizona Rangers?" As they did their research, the truth came out. People were impressed and they appreciated the fact we volunteer our time, put on a uniform, badge and a gun and walk into harm's way to serve the communities we live in. Virtually all the public exposure was positive from that point on. As a result, thousands of unsolicited donations came in from all over the world. Collectively, these donations were far greater than any amount we have ever collected before. The good news continues in the form of incredible connections and relationships that formed in 2021. These include strategic connections in both the private and public sector. Powerful elected officials, both Democrat and Republican, were personally exposed to the Rangers, and they appreciated our efforts too. In addition, the Rangers were exposed to dozens of law enforcement agencies for the first time in 2021. Virtually all of them reported being pleasantly surprised by the quality and capability of the ARO. Many of them had preconceived notions and reservations that were put to rest. Finally, multiple organizations learned about the Rangers from this exposure which might explain why several companies are being contacted for new duties from clients we have never done business with before. Only time will tell what the collective benefit will be from these opportunities. As an organization, we need to actively cultivate and nurture these relationships. We need to leverage the potential benefit of every opportunity. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity THAT we cannot afford to squander. Lt. Bill Nordbrock State Public Information Officer 11
UNIFORM COM M ITTEE UPDATE The Uniform Committee oversees all updates and changes to the Uniform & Apparel policy of the Arizona Rangers organization. The policy includes all apparel worn by Rangers and the equipment/tools they carry. The Committee is comprised of the Deputy State Commander (chair) and the four (4) Area Commanders. After receipt of a requested change, or modification, by the Documents Committee and review for format, etc., the request is then forwarded to the Uniform Committee which reviews the requested changes and/ or additions to the policy and will approve or reject each request. If the Uniform Committee rejects the change/update/addition, the author of the change can appeal the decision to the Board of Directors (BOD). If the BOD sustains the rejection, the request cannot be re-submitted for a period of one year. If the change/update is approved initially, or after a BOD appeal, it is presented to the Board of Governors (BOG) for a vote. During the year 2021 the Uniform Committee received numerous requests for changes or additions to our uniform policy. All approved changes or additions are updated in our Arizona Rangers Reference Manual. Some of the changes that have been approved to date include: -
Equine uniform changes for mounted units. Authorized use of a CO2 discharged OC pellet gun with completion of training. Authorized use of a Taser, with completion of training. Authorized wearing of a ?boonie? style hat, under certain circumstances.
Tasers are approved for use, with restrictions.
The Byrna Pepperball Launcher is approved for use, with restrictions.
Speci al Thank s! Our written rules, regulations, bylaws, forms and more are available online now! Countless hours went into this special project. The resulting online documents are now available through the Ranger portal. This new system will ensure every Company is using up-to-date forms, and saves the entire organization a lot of time. With the touch of a button, any word or phrase can be searched throughout all of the documents simultaneously. Special thanks to Lt. Carlos Lozano for his extra efforts! 12 12
DEVELOPM ENT COM M ITTEE UPDATE The Development Committee (DC) is charged with fundraising for the Arizona Rangers Organization (ARO). This includes generating grants and donations at the State level. Here is a summary of their recent activities. Members of the DC spoke with the Arizona Community Foundation. After educating them about our organization, the Rangers were added to their list of eligible non-profit organizations for funding. The DC also created an Amazon Smiles account. Now shoppers can designate the Arizona Rangers as a beneficiary to receive a portion of the money they spend. There is no extra cost to the consumer as the proceeds are paid by Amazon. Through this program, Amazon Smiles has donated over $1,000 to the Arizona Rangers organization. Last year the ARO received grants or donations from the NRA ($2,500), Black Rifle Coffee Company ($4,000) and Targets Online ($5,000). Many of the grants the ARO received were earmarked for training purposes. The DC is looking for help in 2022. Do you know any organizations with used equipment to donate? This could be anything of value including radios, training equipment, vehicles, trailers, uniforms etc. Also, do you have experience with fundraising or grant writing? If so, please contact Maj. Rick Fisher at rfisher@azrangers.gov
Trai ni ng Ti p: Videos can be an especially useful training tool. It is a great way to learn best practices, and avoid making costly mistakes. Active Threat Response and Police One both have an excellent selection of videos to choose from.
"Don't t rain unt il you get it right ...TRAIN UNTIL YOU CAN'T GET IT WRONG" 13 13
RECRUITING UPDATE FOCUS ON RECRUITING According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are 159 law enforcement agencies in the state of Arizona. Included in these statistics as a State Law Enforcement Organization are the Arizona Rangers. Collectively there are approximately 15,000 City Police Officers, State Troopers, Marshals, Correction Officers, and other individuals who protect and serve our Arizona communities. There are approximately 7.3 million Arizona residents who rely on these 159 law enforcement agencies to keep them safe and maintain order within Arizona. In the best of times this is a challenging task; however, currently the nation is facing a crisis in having enough officers to accomplish their mission to ?protect and serve.? Arizona is no exception to this situation. An example of this concern is that Phoenix PD is down hundreds of officers and as of Oct 2021 Maricopa County Sheriff Office (MCSO) had 203 open correction and sworn officer positions open and is looking into using the National Guard to staff jails. Tucson Police is down 100 officers, now below 800, and is considering hiring additional Community Service Officers who drive marked units and respond to calls relating to burglary, traffic accidents and other non-emergency issues. Personnel shortages reach across every law enforcement organization in the State of Arizona. Many agencies are looking at the Arizona Rangers as a viable solution, especially to handle time consuming, menial tasks like traffic control and community event security. The Arizona Rangers are taking action to prepare for the additional needs. A focus on recruiting and retention is already providing good results. The Board of Directors approved the 2021 Recruitment & Retention Plan. As part of the plan, they appointed four Regional Assistant Recruiting Officers and seventeen Recruiting Sergeants. In addition, a unified recruiting message was developed and marketing materials were distributed throughout the state. A standardized exit survey is now being used to identify areas we can improve for better retention. Currently, we have just over 500 Rangers on the roster. While we have not seen rapid growth yet, we are trending in the right direction with a net increase in the past year. Given the current climate, any growth is exceptional. I am confident that in 2022 the Arizona Rangers will continue to grow., and continue to serve law enforcement agencies in more ways than ever before. Lt.. Michael Reeves State Recruiting Officer 14 14
BENSON KARCHNER CHRISTM AS EVENT Benson Company received a request for assistance via the Arizona Rangers website. Maj. Jeff Rademacher, Benson Company?s Duty Officer, met with two of the organizers of the event (Jon and Megan Hege) to review the request and determine the details. The request entailed providing security and traffic control, working with Benson PD, for the Kartchner Wonderland Christmas event, a large neighborhood fundraiser in honor of Chase Manzo through the charity ?Our Amazing Owen.? The charity raises funds for pediatric cancer patients. This event raised approximately $1,700. Attendees enjoyed great music and food and had the opportunity to make food bank donations. The Rangers working with the Benson PD for this event included Maj. Rademacher, Kevin Gates, Hal Hein, and Sgt. Tom LaSure. A special Thank You goes out to Jon, Megan, Rochelle, and Sean for organizing this great event and to those who attended and donated ? fabulous people! It was an honor and a pleasure to serve the Kartchner Vistas development during this celebration.
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SPOTLIGHT The Tucson Company has a healthy working relationship with the South Tucson Police Department (STPD). It took time for this relationship to develop. This story may serve as a road map for Arizona Ranger companies that want to develop deep relationships with their PD?s. It all began a few years ago when the City of South Tucson requested the Rangers?help with courtroom security. As demands upon their police department continued to grow amid declining budgets, the courts called upon the Rangers to handle prisoner transportation as well. After a period of time, the South Tucson City Council requested the Rangers provide security at their monthly meetings. The relationship with the South Tucson PD took the longest to develop. That began when a vandal began smashing multiple car windshields every evening. The STPD officers would respond within minutes but could not catch the suspect. STPD did not have the resources or the budget to assign officers for surveillance. Mounting pressure from the neighborhood forced the Chief of Police to call in the Rangers.
"I don't want to ask you to do this, but I don't have a choice" The Rangers were asked to provide overnight surveillance. Multiple baker units (two Rangers per vehicle) were deployed for the next several evenings. In less than a week, the Rangers identified the vandal who was then arrested by STPD. Not long after that, the Chief called upon the Rangers again for overnight surveillance. Thiis time, an arsonist was lighting vacant buildings on fire. After four nights, the Rangers identified a suspect and the fires stopped. As trust was established, the Chief realized he needed to leverage the Rangers more. STPD is a small department, sometimes having only two officers on duty. Some situations require substantial manpower for an extended period, which leaves his community unprotected.For example, after a fatal car accident, officers need to direct traffic while investigators process the scene. When officers are busy directing traffic, they are unable to respond to other calls. The Chief approached the Tucson Command Staff and said he needed enhanced support from the Rangers. The Tucson Company agreed to help, with a few restrictions. Those Rangers who wanted to provide these 16 16
ARTICLE enhanced services must have additional training on defensive tactics, handcuffing, use of force, radio communications, traffic control, prisoner transportation and more. The training was provided by STPD instructors. In addition, each Ranger must pass an annual physical fitness test, much more strenuous than the norm. The final condition was that the City of South Tucson, and their insurance underwriters, approve of the Arizona Rangers providing these services. We needed to be insured by them when operating out of their vehicles. This is how the Law Enforcement Assistance team (LEA) was formed. Initially, a few of the STPD officers had reservations about working with the LEA Rangers since they were not AZPOST certified. The LEA Rangers began to train alongside the STPD officers. This was critically important. The officers got to see the Rangers in action. They saw how quickly they learned and effectively they performed.. The STPD officers began to trust the Rangers and their reservations were put to ease.
"The Rangers are a Force Multiplier" Now the Rangers are called upon on a weekly basis for a variety of duties. When an apartment building caught fire, the LEA Rangers handled traffic control and prevented looters from entering the property. These Rangers provide crime scene preservation for homicides, conduct prisoner watch at the hospital, and go on patrol with the officers. The Rangers have become a force multiplier for the STPD. Former STPD Commander Shonk was asked, ?who are the Arizona Rangers?? He replied, ?The Rangers work with us, they train with us, and they help us with virtually everything. They are one of us and we trust them.? Arizona Ranger Lt. Kirby added, ?we never solicited services from them. We let them identify their needs and come to us. The officers need to trust the Rangers they work with. By training alongside them, they slowly build the trust they need. Don't rush that process. An internal commitment to quality is critically important.The LEA Rangers must make a positive impression with the officers they work with.This includes being physically fit and exercising good judgment. There is no room for mediocrity in our LEA program.? 17 17
EAST VALLEY Su n s h i n e A c r e s The East Valley Company?s?primary youth organization is SunShine Acres Children's Home. Sunshine Acres has provided safe and secure housing for more than 2,000 children since 1954. These at-risk youth are separated from their parents. Since early in 2020, the 125-acre property was locked down due to COVID-19. In Dec 2020 the East Valley Ranger Company held an onsite BBQ and delivered Christmas presents to the kids.. The East Valley Ranger Company returned in June 2021, hosting a BBQ event with burgers, hot dogs, drinks and ice cream for all the children, house parents and staff. M SGT. Ja m e s Wi l so n
Ch r i s t m a s Pa r t y 2 0 2 1
Ranger of the Year Mike Lewis
Major Jeff East accepting award for 15 years of AZ Rangers Service presented by Col. Mike Droll and Captain Gordon Johnson.
Colonel Mike Droll and Captain Gordon Johnson
Rookie Ranger of the Year Jeff Mitchell 18 18
LONESOM E VALLEY
The Lonesome Valley Company has had a productive year. Kudos to Sgt. Hutchison and the rest of the Rangers for recruiting so many good people. The new recruits are assigned an FTO (Field Training Officer) immediately after being sworn in as a Probationary Ranger. With that growth comes many more duties, and MSgt. Voegele is busy managing that. Sgt. Osther and Sgt. Lusk help her a lot! Sgt. Riggs has his hands full with communications and technology, while Sgt. Sweibel and Sgt. Robertson handle public relations. It truly is a team effort! Sgt. Geldmacher is the rangemaster, assisted by the his well qualified team of Ranger cadre. They ensure everyone is up on their qualifications. Keep up the great work Lonesome Valley!
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M ADERA
Tubac Art Festival
Madera Rangers and the Sahuarita Police Capt. CJGaecke of Madera Co. escorted "Annamarie" to "Shop with a Cop". Madera Co. donated $1500 to aid 40 local children in shopping for Christmas presents. Sahuarita PD FOP and local businesses also donated for the event.
Lt. Steve Lewis accepts Madera Co's Ranger of the Year award from Capt. CJGaecke. Lt. Lewis is the Company Treasurer and Training Sgt.
PEORIA
Sgt John Semerau and Gov. Ducey at a High School hockey game Peoria Company loves to put smiles on the faces of children 20 20
PHOENIX Som et im es it r eally is " who you know" . MSGT. Scot Walker of the Phoenix Company was invited to attend Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) because of his law enforcement contacts in California. The training was fantastic! The ability to identify psychiatric disorders among the homeless and drug addicted population, and then to effectively de-escalate tense situations will prove to be useful. As an added benefit, MSGT. Walker was able to perform outreach duties in Los Angeles County. He handed out challenge coins and shoulder patches to all the instructors. In addition, he traded bling with retired Veterans Affairs Chief of Police Dave Weiner, and the LA Police North Hollywood Commander, Captain Brian Bixler. Ran ger s Ret u r n t o Hillson g Ch u r ch For several years the Phoenix Company maintained a working relationship with Hillsong Church, doing weekly details at their downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale campuses, as well as occasional duties at their Mesa campus. The Hillsong leadership eventually decided to field their own security teams and the Rangers stepped down and moved on to other community service duties. But early in 2021 Hillsong reached out to the Rangers yet again to take over security concerns at their downtown Phoenix campus, and we have re-established a rewarding working relationship with one of our traditional duty locations. Every Sunday parishioners will find Rangers working behind the scenes in plainclothes, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Hillsong Phoenix is housed in an historic church, original erected in 1927 as First Presbyterian, and is now the home of the Phoenix campus of Hillsong International, one of the most influential ministries worldwide. The Phoenix Company is proud to continue to serve the needs of our local community and the people of Hillsong. In t h e com pan y of Her oes Col. Mike Droll visits with heroes, including a WWII Veteran who stormed the beaches at Normandy, and a Medal of Honor recipient
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SUN LAKES SHOP WITH A COP The Sun Lakes Rangers raised over $5,000 in 2021 to provide Christmas gifts for underprivileged children & young adults. This was done in partnership with the non-profit organization AZLEOS (azleos.org) and the generous residents of Sun Lakes. SHOP WITH A COP is a program used by law enforcement officers to assist with community relations.During this event, the children are given a gift certificate to purchase any items they want in a participating store. The law enforcement officer acts as a chaperon and companion as they shop. By participating in the program, children and young adults gain a positive experience with law enforcement officers.
SUN LAKES RANGERS TO THE RESCUE It was a routine, quiet November evening and a few Rangers were on patrol in nearby active retirement communities. Rangers Roger Hyles, Andries Rijnders, and Scott Hannan noticed a dark minivan that looked out of place. When the Rangers approached the minivan, they observed an elderly couple that appeared disoriented. Both of the seniors were lethargic and kept turning the minivan alarm off and on. After a quick assessment, the Rangers called 911. The Maricopa County Sheriff responded along with EMTs. It was soon determined the "at-risk" seniors had been missing for more than 30 hours. They were reunited with their family, and advised to seek medical attention. Thank you to all of the Sun Lakes Rangers, for helping keep our communities safe.
COM M UNITY OPEN HOUSES The Sun Lakes Rangers participated in community open houses in Cottonwood/Palo Verde, Ironwood, Oakwood, the Sun Lakes Country Club, and Sunbird during the months of October and November. These annual open houses offer all Sun Lake residents and guests the opportunity to visit the various clubs and activities available. This also gives the Rangers the opportunity to recruit and share Ranger success stories. 22 22
TOM BSTONE GI VI N G BA CK Lt. Col. Rich Lockery, Lt. Mick Douthit and the Fraternal Order of Police from Sierra Vista donated $500 each for a total of $1500 to the Tombstone Unified School District for volleyball equipment and uniforms. LTC. Lockery and Lt. Douthit present the check to school Principal Mrs Paz, and the volleyball coach Misty Wohlers.
L AW EN FO RCEM EN T A SSI STA N CE Tombstone Company Rangers work hand-in-hand with the Tombstone Marshal?s Office (TMO) and about 90% of the duties fall under LEA (Law Enforcement Assist). Tombstone Rangers, along with Rangers from other companies, routinely ?walk the boards? on historic Allen Street every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On those days, the Tombstone Rangers also man the Arizona Rangers State Museum. Tombstone Rangers provide school resource patrols at Meyer Elementary School, serve as court bailiffs on Thursdays, have a bike patrol, a mounted unit and bar patrol on Friday and Saturday nights. Among some of the recent activities of the Tombstone Rangers are: -
Assisting in three TMO arrests Assisting on five ambulance calls Helping out on a theft and recovery Responded to "shots fired" call Provided prisoner transportation Assisted with missing vehicle reports
The Rangers have also taken part in locating a wanted person, worked with TMO on a school threat, and assisted in multiple medical emergencies. 23 23
TUCSON U N U SU A L D U TI ES The Arizona Rangers often assist law enforcement agencies with time consuming, low risk duties to free up officers?time to protect each other, and the communities they serve. Usually these are for mundane duties like traffic control or crime scene preservation. Over the years, the Tucson Company has provided some interesting services for various law enforcement and public safety agencies. Here are a few examples. After robbing a bank, the thief led police on a foot pursuit into the Santa Cruz River basin. Somewhere in the heavily vegetated area, the robber discarded the stolen loot before he was apprehended. The initial search illustrated the magnitude of resources needed to adequately search the area. The Rangers were called in to assist. Multiple Rangers combed the area for several hours and the stolen money was recovered.
In another case, a light airplane had crashed near Tucson. Unfortunately, the pilot did not survive and his body could not be extricated from the aircraft until the following day. The FAA investigators were dispatched but they too would not arrive until the following day. The Rangers were called in to preserve and secure the crash scene until the Federal investigators arrived.
Our final story takes place near Marana, AZ. Torrential rains created severe flooding on the northwest side of Tucson. This led to the derailment of a Union Pacific train in the town of Marana. Twenty-seven railroad cars and their UPS contents were strewn about the area. Investigation and cleanup would last for several days. Multiple agencies were immediately dispatched. The Marana Police Department requested assistance from the Arizona Rangers. Several Rangers were posted around the clock to provide traffic control and to prevent looting. As it turned out, drug dealers were using UPS to ship illegal loads of marijuana. Several packages of suspicious substances were turned over to the Marana Police Department. 24
YUM A On a p leasan t Decem b er n igh t , w h ile r elaxin g at h o m e M ajo r Ad am s, Dir ect o r o f Tr ain in g an d Co m m an d er o f Yu m a Co m p an y, h ear d t h e d ist in ct ive so u n d o f p r o p an e t an ks exp lo d in g. He w alked o u t sid e an d co u ld see t h at t h er e w as a su b st an t ial f ir e o n t h e p r o p er t y acr o ss t h e r o ad f r o m h is r an ch . M ajo r Ad am s m et u p w it h t h e h o m eow n er an d asked h im w h at w as o n f ir e an d if t h er e w er e an y in ju r ies. Th e h o m eow n er said it w as a t r avel t r ailer t h ey h ad ju st p u r ch ased t h at d ay. Th e h o m eow n er t o ld M ajo r Ad am s t h at t h e 911 o p er at o r w as n o t u n d er st an d in g t h e sit u at io n an d it d id n o t so u n d like t h ey w er e sen d in g f ir e u n it s. M ajo r Ad am s assessed t h e in t en sit y o f t h e f ir e an d r ealized t h e m ain r esid en ce w as clo se t o t h e b u r n in g t r ailer . Ad d it io n ally, t h e over gr ow n t r ees o n t h e p r o p er t y w er e also cat ch in g f ir e an d h e w as co n cer n ed t h e n eigh b o r in g h o u ses w er e in d an ger . M ajo r Ad am s in st r u ct ed h is w if e t o call 911 again an d t o ad vise t h at t h er e w as a r ecr eat io n al t r ailer f u lly en gu lf ed in f ir e w it h o ccu p ied r esid en t ial exp o su r es; h e kn ew t h is w o u ld exp ed it e t h e r esp o n se. Wh ile h is w if e w as co n t act in g 911, h e d r ove h is t r u ck t o t h e m ain r o ad , act ivat ed h is em er gen cy ligh t s an d d o n n ed h is Ar izo n a Ran ger vest t o d ir ect t h e f ir e d ep ar t m en t o n t o t h e r o ad . In f act , t h e f ir st f ir e t r u ck over sh o t t h e r o ad an d h ad t o b ack u p . M ajo r Ad am s r em ain ed at t h e m ain r o ad t o d ir ect all t h r ee f ir e t r u cks an d t h r ee r escu e u n it s in t o t h e scen e. M ajo r Ad am s t h en r em ain ed at t h e ed ge o f h is r an ch p r o p er t y an d p r ovid ed b o t t led w at er t o t h e f ir ef igh t er s an d d ep u t ies, m o st o f w h o m h e u sed t o w o r k w it h . It w as lat er lear n ed t h at t w o sm all ch ild r en an d t w o ad u lt s w er e t aken t o t h e h o sp it al by am b u lan ce f o r t r eat m en t o f b u r n s an d sm o ke in h alat io n . 25 25
CAPRI'S STORY In early 2020, Capri Iverson was turning 8-years old. Quarantined by COVID, all she wanted for her birthday was a police officer to drive by her house with their lights on. The Arizona Rangers spread the word and the first responder procession was two blocks long. Even FOX news was there! Overwhelmed by this show of affection, she has dedicated her life to returning the favor. Initially, she attended rallies, memorial services and occasionally bought an officer lunch. By leveraging Facebook, her ability to express appreciation grew like a tsunami, benefiting countless police officers all over the nation. She is now a beloved icon in the law enforcement community and is affectionately known as ?Officer Capri?. Social Media law enforcement celebrities like Sheriff Mark Lamb, Officer Daniels and Officer Parker have taken notice. So have famous musicians, and important elected officials. She even received a direct message of encouragement from a former President of the United States. Everyone seems to love her! Now, a single Facebook post from Officer Capri can reach more than 1 million people! Clearly there is something special about Capri, and everyone seems to notice. How does she effortlessly melt the hearts of heroes? She has the heart of a lion and the soul of an angel... Not long after her 8th birthday, Capri?s health took a major turn for the worse. Diagnosed with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and unexplained swelling in her brain, doctors expect she will soon be completely blind and confirmed to a wheelchair. After hearing the diagnosis, Capri?s mom began to cry. Capri reassured her ?it?s okay mom, we got this?. Despite these incredible setbacks, and countless doctor appointments, Capri has never stopped showing appreciation for first responders. After a particularly painful treatment, Capri recorded a heartfelt video message for the police: ?This is Officer Capri. I love you, I am praying for you, and I have your six?. Capri recorded that message from her wheelchair. As she became a bit of a celebrity herself, Capri never forgot about the Arizona Rangers. In the fall of 2021, an Arizona Ranger purchased an official uniform, tailored for Capri, and she was sworn in as an Honorary Ranger. Since then, she has made several public appearances and has become a powerful ambassador for the Arizona Rangers. Her wheelchair is outfitted with emergency lights, siren and her Facebook page now says ?Officer Capri, AZ Ranger forever?. When asked "what's the most beautiful thing in the world?", Capri said "the rain forest". Her mom desperately wants Capri to see a real rain forest before she goes blind. The Rangers established a GoFundMe campaign to cover medical expenses so their family can take a trip to Costa Rica. and see the rain forest. Please donate if so moved. 26 26
CARN I VAL TALE Wh o doesn?t lik e a car n ival? The rides, the food, the entertainment. It?s a good day for everyone in attendance, including the Peoria Company Arizona Rangers who provided security for a multi-day event in Wickenburg. Kids were running around, screaming in delight for the prizes they had just won or begging mom and dad to go on one of the many thrilling rides. With all this activity and excitement, it is understandable a child might get separated from their parents. Such was the case when a young woman approached a Ranger, reporting her little nephew was missing. Family members and the Rangers searched in vain for quite some time. Just as the Rangers were about to report the missing child to the Wickenburg Police Department, a faint cry was heard from an outhouse. It seems the boy's older cousins wanted to go on all the thrilling rides. They coaxed the boy to join them, but he was afraid to go on the ride. Quite terrified, he had a ?little accident? and ran to the outhouse. It was there he found safe refuge. Humiliated and not wanting to be seen in public, he begged his grandfather to come pick him up. The Rangers cleared a path from the street to the outhouse, so the grandfather could pull up in his truck. The young boy was able to sneak out of the outhouse and into his grandfather ?s truck before being seen by anyone. Although the Rangers provided assistance, this time it was the grandfather who truly saved the day. Crisis averted, the little boy was spared any embarrassment from his older cousin and that?s a good day in anyone?s book. Lt. Ken Barnick
Or igin al Ar izon a Ran ger s Colt This Colt single-action revolver was reportedly owned by O. Frank Hicks who enlisted in the Arizona Rangers in 1909. It features one-piece ivory grips and was made in 1895. It was sold at an auction in New Mexico in 2021. Estimated value $20,000-$25,000. 27
Beh i n d t h e Ba d ge A glim pse int o t he privat e lives of a few Rangers Ranger Jack Pauly plays John Adam s in an educat ional program for children.
MSGT. Ryan Wyat t is a cert ified Tact ical Param edic, Flight Param edic and works in a hospit al Em ergency Depart m ent . He is t he Direct or of Training at Talon Tact ical Medicine, t he Training Sergeant wit h Tucson Com pany and he helps t rain t he Air Force Pararescue Team s (PJs).
Lt . Ken Barnick at t ended t he Space Academ y. If you view t his online, go t o t he 1:30 m ark of t he video t o see a WILD ride! 28 28
West er n H er i t a ge Ex h i b i t
Ranger Mary Tim pany (in period cost um e) wit h t he Herit age Cent er ?s CEO Dennis Gallagher and one of t he Cent er ?s guides Dennis Tubert y (also in period cost um e).
The Arizona Rangers State Museum is in Tombstone, but the Arizona Rangers also have an exhibit space at the Western Heritage Center in Prescott. Founder and CEO of the Center, Dennis Gallagher stated ?the Western Heritage Foundation was formed to help preserve and promote our western heritage. The Arizona Rangers are part of this heritage and embody the spirit of the West.? As such, during the initial planning stages for the Western Heritage Center, Mr. Gallagher offered the Rangers complimentary exhibit space at the Center. It was exciting to be included since part of our mission is keeping alive the history and tradition of the Old West. From that point on, Ranger Timpany of East Valley Company has been instrumental in maintaining a relationship between the Center and the Arizona Rangers. She has coordinated efforts to publicize and
promote the Arizona Rangers at the Center, providing kid?s badge stickers, Ranger magazines and brochures. The Ranger display is constantly changing, with the addition of new posters and other items. Display designs for the Heritage Center are overseen by Marilyn Fisher, a former Reagan Library and Reagan Ranch curator. Like our Arizona Ranger Museum in Tombstone, the Western Heritage Center welcomes guests from all over the world. The Center is located on historic Whiskey Row, 156 S Montezuma St., Prescott, AZ. The Center is staffed by volunteers, and is open Thursday ? Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Ranger Timpany appreciates the help she has received from Maj. Gold, Lt. Reeves, and Lt. Wells. .
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Fr o m t h e St a t e H i st o r i a n THEY RODE TOWARD THE ROAR OF GUNFIRE? ? For Eigh t Lon g Year s - Tam in g t h e Ar izon a Ter r it or y in t im e f or St at eh ood bef or e Fallin g Vict im t o Polit ics? Although there were various government entities known as "Arizona Rangers" during the latter half of the 19th Century, the "Modern Day" Arizona Rangers, generally trace our roots back to the legendary "26 Men" assembled in 1901 by Captain Burton C. Mossman and immortalized in the 1950's television series by the same title. One Hundred and Seven lawmen, (give or take a Ranger), wore the five-pointed silver star, the design of which "Modern Day" Rangers still grace their midnight-black uniforms with in 2022. Within eight years, the Rangers fell victim to Territorial politics, however; on February 15, 1909, they were abolished. (Nobody told Ranger Emil Lenz, who engaged in perhaps the last official gunfight of the Arizona Ranger during that era when he traded shots with Outlaw Allen Rose before the armed robber tossed his six-shooter into the arms of a Saguaro cactus, threw up his hands and surrendered). Some other Rangers were also still out "in the field" when all this political skullduggery went down, chasing cattle rustlers and horse thieves, train robbers and stage coach hold-up men.It would be two weeks before everyone wearing a five-pointed silver star got the word; (this was nearly a century before cell phones and text messaging, of course!) Most of the Rangers reluctantly turned in their much-coveted badges, (at the governor 's request, the rumor being they were all going to be melted down to prevent any "ex-Ranger chicanery" on the open range with the killers of recently murdered Sgt. Jeff Kidder still on the loose), but we have a handful of die hard lawmen - "once a Ranger always a Ranger!" - to thank for the organization we have today. Fast forward three decades to the harsh desert winter of 1939: nine of the former peace officers - previously under Captain Harry Wheeler 's command - gathered in Phoenix "? from widely separated sections of the state? to reorganize? a social organization to meet annually." Six of them appeared in an Arizona Republic newspaper photo entitled, "Arizona Territorial Rangers, The Law of the Old West? ." Pictured were W.O. Parmer, John McK. Redmond, Pollard Pearson, Reuben L. Neill, Joe Pearce and James D. Bailey. (I was especially elated to see Bailey's name in that caption, for I am the proud owner of one of his Winchester rifles, obtained in 2005 from his great-stepson in Camp Verde during my field trips in Red Rock Country, collecting "all-things" Ranger and conducting research for a biography on perhaps the most famous Ranger of them all, Sgt. Jeff Kidder; one of Bailey's service revolvers is on display at the Arizona Rangers State Museum in Tombstone). Also present in Phoenix for that historic gathering were ?Rye? Miles, Bert Anderson and Sam Hayhurst. The following year, many of the same Rangers met again in Yavapai County and were 3030
honored at the Prescott Rodeo Parade: Parmer, Bailey, Miles and Pearce were joined by fellow Old Timers Owen Wilson, Charles Eperson and Charles McGarr. Additional "Original" Rangers joined their esteemed brethren over the ensuing seventeen years, and on November 22, 1957 the "Arizona Rangers" incorporated - largely thanks to the efforts of four former lawmen: Beaty, Pearce, Parmer and Redmond. In the ensuing 64 years, our proud organization has expanded to over 500 Rangers in 22 "companies" spread geographically across the Grand Canyon State. (We're not just a social club anymore!) From Mohave Company (Kingman) in the northwest to Yuma Company in the Southwest, High Country Company just below the Grand Canyon and the instantly recognizable names of companies along the border - Tombstone, Douglas and Bisbee. Our volunteers stand ready to assist traditional law enforcement agencies in their respective communities when called upon to do so. Our honorary "Chief " is Gov. Doug Ducey, our state commander is Col. Mike Droll, (stationed out of Phoenix Company), and in the last few months alone, Rangers have logged over 2,000 hours assisting police departments and county Sheriff 's offices from Fredonia to Patagonia. Whether in brand-new Interceptors the Rangers pay for themselves, or atop their more feisty four-legged partners (Arizona Rangers Mounted Units train to the minimum law enforcement standards - usually exceeding 100 hours - before being awarded the prestigious and coveted Ranger bridle!) "Modern Day" Rangers strive to uphold our motto of "Few But Proud - Then and Now," by providing law enforcement support and assistance to any federal, state or local law enforcement agency within the state of Arizona, as well as security services for community and civic organizations. We encourage pro-police youth activities and strive to keep alive the history and traditions of the Old West. Two Rangers from our 1901-09 era made the ultimate sacrifice: Private Carlos Tafoya, (in a vicious 1901 gunfight deep in the snowbound White Mountains near Show Low during a manhunt after the Bill Smith Gang); and Sgt. Jeff Kidder, (in a 1908 shoot-out with corrupt Mexican officials in the stifling border town of Naco, Sonora). Today's uniformed Rangers have it no safer: relatively recently, Sgt. John Warren "J.T." Thomas was gunned down in 1992 outside a bank in Sierra Vista. So, becoming a member of our law enforcement auxiliary is not without risks; the job satisfaction, however, is intense - that I can guarantee you! Lt. Nick Cain Arizona Rangers State Historian 31 31
ARIZONA RANGERS
For information please contact: editor@azrangers.gov www.azrangers.gov 32