ACCENT
By Criss Candelaria, Apache County Attorney
ACCENT is the Apache County Crime Enforcement Team. This includes major felonies and drug crimes. The Apache County Attorney is an integral part of the team and sits on the governing board. In addition to overseeing the prosecution of the criminal cases investigated and developed by ACCENT, the Apache County Attorney also provides the legal work for forfeiting the property used in crimes and the proceeds of crimes so that they may be made available to support law enforcement activities. Significantly, the team prioritizes funding and resources for law enforcement activities.
We are working to add the Navajo Nation Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona Motor Vehicle Department (Sanders Port of Entry) onto our team. For whatever historical reasons, these law enforcement agencies chose not to participate with ACCENT in the past. With a new sheriff, and recent additional funds from forfeitures, there is new interest in this interagency law enforcement program that will benefit all of the residents of Apache County.
My office recently proposed to enhance the ACCENT team by using our limited funds to provide officer training in specialized areas of sexual assault, homicides, criminal syndicates, and arson. Our plan is to share resources between our different agencies so that we will have a primary contact and an alternate contact with the special training necessary for leading or assisting in investigations wherever serious crimes occur throughout the Apache County.
© 2008 Criss Candelaria
|
