Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Provides New Insights on Bill Grey

The second half of Yavapai County District 2 Supervisor James Gregory’s town hall on Tuesday, January 14, at Oak Creek Elementary School focused on the operations of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO).

“You guys are a pretty well-behaved community. There’s not a lot of violent crime and a lot of wildness going on,” said Lt. Dan Pritchard, addressing attendees.

Issues surrounding camping in Willow Point, Oak Creek Valley, and particularly along Bill Grey Road were highlighted. Sgt. Blake Lanoue, head of the Forest Patrol Division, described the top concerns for the community. “The camping issues are major points of concern for everyone in this room,” he noted, emphasizing ongoing efforts in these rural enforcement areas.

Lanoue pointed out that campers have begun to concentrate along Bill Grey Road, particularly due to closures of public camping areas by the U.S. Forest Service. In late 2024, YCSO conducted seven camping enforcement details in that region, resulting in over 60 contacts with individuals camping on State Trust land.

“When we mention ‘contacts,’ we refer to those who we’ve spoken to, checked licenses, and identified,” Lanoue explained, detailing actions taken, including the issuance of 16 trespass warnings and 10 citations. Most campers were compliant with regulations, holding valid permits and adhering to the 14-day camping limit.

One family affected by recent upheaval is the Aker family. After losing their home to a fire in Globe, they have been staying in a donated camper and are currently looking for supplies and construction jobs.

“We are working on cleaning that up,” Lanoue stated, acknowledging that many campers face real hardships. He explained that not everyone is creating a mess; many are genuinely trying to comply with regulations.

Lanoue disclosed that YCSO provides pamphlets detailing outreach and community resources to those they encounter. “Though we know they may not have anywhere else to go, camping isn’t a solution,” he stated, emphasizing their commitment to providing support. YCSO anticipates conducting monthly details along Bill Grey Road moving forward.

On the traffic front, Pritchard reported a significant decrease in accidents in the Cornville area, dropping from 165 in 2023 to 140 in 2024. He attributed the decline to increased YCSO enforcement, which included 540 more traffic stops over the past year.

Although one resident expressed concern over speeding on Cornville Road’s switchbacks, Pritchard assured attendees that efforts are ongoing to enhance traffic safety. “We’ll try to get additional details out here,” he said, mentioning the use of undercover cars.

Pritchard also highlighted the addition of five new YCSO deputies expected to join the Verde Valley and Village of Oak Creek after completing training. Furthermore, a new office space at Verde Valley Fire District Station 32 has been secured to allow deputies to conduct administrative work more efficiently without the long commute back to Camp Verde.

“I want to broaden our footprint within your communities,” Pritchard said. While the office will not be accessible to the public, it symbolizes a commitment to improved community engagement and quicker response times.