In Memoriam

Every day, members of the Pima County Sheriff's Department put their lives on the line. Some days are uneventful and other days are full of danger. And some days, their dedication to the job leads them to perform great acts of heroism.

This area of the Pima County Sheriff's Department website is dedicated to the members of our Department who have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is our responsibility to history that we continue to recognize the great sacrifices these brave officers made for the safety and security of this community.

Timothy D. Graham

On August 10, 2005, at approximately 7:52pm, Deputy Timothy Graham responded to a suspicious person call at the Circle K located at Ajo Highway and Kinney Road. The suspicious person was identified as Aaron Kenneth Swyers; Deputy Graham had previous contact with Aaron Swyers earlier that same day. ... read more »

Shannon Russell

Corrections Officer Shannon Russell passed away while on duty. He had just completed the new obstacle course at the Arizona H.I.D.T.A. Regional Training Center, as part of a physical conditioning program for the Corrections Bureau Tactical Assistance Group (TAG), when he collapsed. Shannon Russell, ... read more »

Randall Graves

Deputy Graves was working a sensitive and dangerous undercover assignment on the night of January 21, 1986. He and a passenger were traveling east on Speedway Boulevard on Deputy Graves’ motorcycle. As they approached the intersection of Speedway and Alvernon, a car turned into their path. The motor... read more »

Ernest Calvillo

Deputy Calvillo and Sergeant Craig Newburn were working off duty guarding movie equipment outside the Wagon Wheel Post Bar in Avra Valley. At approximately 7:30pm, they were approached by a patron of the bar who told them there had been a fight in the bar, and one of the participants was now in the ... read more »

Jack Brierly

At 6:00pm on November 15, 1953, the Sheriff’s Department responded to a call that a pedestrian had been struck by a car. Deputy Jack Brierly proceeded to the incident location on his motorcycle, heading west on Speedway. With lights flashing and siren blaring, he sped toward the accident. As he near... read more »

John D. Anderson

On Sunday, August 8, 1948, Guy Rockefeller and six friends were hiking in Sabino Canyon. Guy became stranded on a narrow ledge about five hundred feet above Sabino Creek. One of his friends hiked five miles to the ranger station for help. The Sheriff’s Department was notified and Deputy John Anderso... read more »

Clifford Nelson

On October 21, 1928, eighteen-year-old William Hyatt set off on a hunting trip in the Oracle area. When he failed to return the next day, his mother called the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff James McDonald sent a posse of deputies and volunteers to search the area. They found nothing that day. The ne... read more »

James A. Mercer

Cattle rustling was, and is, a very profitable crime. The county employed rangers to help combat this problem. On December 2, 1914, County Ranger James A. Mercer, accompanied by rancher Robert Fenton, went to the small ranch of J. Padilla in an area north of Pantano, Arizona. Ranger Mercer was inves... read more »

Joe W. Meeks

Calistro Villareal was of a breed of desperados that would be found any day of the week frequenting the many bars in Ajo, Arizona during the years around 1913. In the early morning hours of January 21, 1913, Mr. Villareal, reportedly drinking heavily, gambling, and generally acting rowdy with a grou... read more »

Andrew W. Holbrook

In 1883, the Pima County Jail was located in the basement of the newly erected courts building. One commissioned head jailer along with three non-commissioned assistants were employed by Pima County Sheriff Robert Paul. While performing his duties on Sunday, May 4, 1883, Andrew W. Holbrook, Head Jai... read more »