PHOENIX – The Arizona Departments of Emergency and Military Affairs and Public Safety posture to support Southern Arizona in response to Governor Katie Hobbs’ executive order.

As the Department of Public Safety (DPS) enhances its uniformed presence in the vicinity of the Lukeville Port of Entry, Guardsmen are expected to provide logistical, administrative, and analytical support for those troopers deployed there. This will be a multi-phased response and will continue to develop based on requests from local law enforcement.

All law enforcement actions, and authority will be exercised by DPS and Arizona Peace Officer Standard and Training certified personnel. DPS will focus on interdiction of narcotics and human smuggling networks operating in Southern Arizona.

“This is a team effort,” said Major General Kerry L. Muehlenbeck, Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Director and The Adjutant General of Arizona. “We are diligently working with our partners to ensure the safety and security of all Arizonans.”

The number of Guardsmen deployed as well as the scale of their mission is expected to fluctuate based on needs of the community and the developing security situation in Southern Arizona. Due to operational security considerations, mission specifics will not be released at this time.

“Our efforts to provide enhanced security in Southern Arizona is unwavering,” said Colonel Jeffrey Glover, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. “In accordance with state law, the DPS is committed to supporting this team effort to be a visible presence for this operation at our southern border.”

Additional resources will be phased into communities over the next 30 days. Requests for support and operational deconfliction with state and local agencies will be facilitated by DEMA’s Emergency Management Division. This statewide effort will ensure work by local partners is supported with state resources through a coordinated framework.

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) was awarded $696,781 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grants will help with overtime costs for troopers during driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement details, targeted distracted driving enforcement operations, occupant protection (seat belt) enforcement details, collision reduction details, and the Street Racing Task Force. The grant funding will also support overtime staffing in Operational Communications and the State Crime Laboratory.

The GOHS grant funding will also be directed to the training of additional Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) and the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment related to vehicle collision investigation enforcement.

GOHS has allocated grant funds in support of these programs:

• $51,200 for seat belt enforcement details
• $150,000 for DUI enforcement
• $40,000 for distracted driving enforcement
• $150,000 for STEP/speed enforcement
• $40,000 for the Street Racing Task Force
• $75,000 in overtime funding for the State Crime Lab
• $20,000 for dispatch support for DUI & street racing enforcement
• $90,000 for DRE training, materials & supplies
• $80,581 for criminal collision investigation

“Speed, impaired driving, distracted driving, and failure to use a seat belt continue to be the leading causes of serious injuries and fatal collisions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Deston Coleman Jr., Assistant Director of the Highway Patrol Division at AZDPS. “Thanks to the continued support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, state troopers will be able to increase enforcement and make the roadways safer for the motoring public.”