Nationally Respected Arizona Sheriff Dead

Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever died unexpectedly last night. According to reports, Sheriff Dever was involved in a single car accident near Williams, Arizona in Coconino County at around 7pm on September 18, 2012.

Sheriff Dever, though a local county sheriff, had national level attention. As sheriff of the border county where rancher Robert Krentz was assassinated by a drug and human trafficking cartel, Dever was among those conservative law enforcement leaders to support several landmark laws in Arizona. Among those laws were the controversial SB1070, the Arizona law that requires local police to enforce federal immigration laws, and Arizona's state law that removed the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

Other key events Sheriff Dever's leadership impacted greatly include the 2011 Monument Fire that consumed Palominas, half of Hereford, much of the Coronado National Forest, and several small towns between Sierra Vista and the Mexican border.


The Official Cochise County Sheriff's Office  press release:

From the Sheriff's Office

It is with deep sadness and regret that the Cochise County Sheriff's Office must advise the following:

Sheriff Larry Dever was involved in a one vehicle accident near the town of Williams on Tuesday September 18, 2012 at approximately 7:00 pm. As a result of this accident Sheriff Dever was fatally wounded and did not survive. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office is in charge of the investigation.

The Dever family is aware that many will want to make contact with the family to express their condolences, however, they request that no calls be made to them at their personal residence. The Cochise County Sheriff's Office will relay all messages to the family directly. God bless the Dever family.

Condolences can be added to the Sheriff's Office Facebook page:

Please direct all calls, cards, etc to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office:

             205 N Judd Dr

                      Bisbee AZ 85603

Phone	(520) 432-9500
Email	=   Sheriff-Tips@cochise.az.gov
Website

 Original article and personal reflections posted at Mental Aikido. .