On Monday, July 24, 2017, extreme monsoon storms moved through the Tucson area causing heavy flash flooding in the Tanque Verde Wash located just northeast of Tucson. As a result of the rapidly moving flood waters hikers were stranded in the wash and surrounding area.
Special Olympics Arizona is an organization that DPS loves to work with all year round. In April, DPS hosts the Special Olympcs BBQ, which is always a community hit! The Law Enforcement Torch Run is another event put on by Special Olympics Arizona that DPS personnel always look forward to!
The Rotary Club in Nogales honors a law enforcement officer from law enforcement agencies in the Nogales area every year. This year, on June 9, Trooper David Diaz, badge number 10070, received the award.
The Goodwin Fire has now reached a size of nearly 25,000 acres in Prescott Valley.
Thomas Yoxall, also well known as The Good Samaritan, had his life changed when he stepped up to save a trooper being attacked by a gunman, early one January morning. Yoxall was travelling on Interstate 10 towards California when he came across an attacker on top of Trooper Ed Andersson.
A former Marine is being laid to rest next to his wife, with help from DPS.
Mario Rivas served in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force until 1959, when he was honorably discharged.
The Sunrise Optimist Club of Yuma is an organization geared towards children in thousands of communities throughout the country. One goal of the organization is to inspire respect for the law.
A family knows no limit. The sense of family is strong throughout the Department of Public Safety.
Medals are a universal sign of accomplishments. With the help of one woman, the Arizona Department of Public Safety is beginning to recognize them as a sign of protection and community support.
On May 1, 2017, the Arizona Department of Public Safety honored its 29 fallen officers.
