Gulf in Apache County widens

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — It appears about the only thing that will restore Apache County Sheriff Brian Hounshell's power to what it was when he assumed office is a $100,000 frybread fund-raiser to help him post bond.

Hounshell attended a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday during which County Manager Delwin Wengert told the board that due to the sheriff's failure to post a $100,000 performance bond, it was being recommended that a new division be formed for Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The board voted 2-1, with Supervisor Jim Claw casting the dissenting vote, and Tom White and David Brown voting to remove the two agencies from the sheriff's jurisdiction and place them under the control of the county manager.

Claw described the move as "a waste of time and a waste of resources," and added that the Supervisors' action would seem to "paralyze and take away from an entire department."

Sheriff Hounshell said he adamantly expressed his displeasure at the meeting. Previously under Delwin Wengert with Emergency Management, there was little to no service to the citizens of Apache County, he said.

"Communities and citizens throughout Apache County are prepared emergency responders. This has not happened without hard work and hundreds of community members' volunteer time. I find it hard not to wonder if the $250,000 in equipment that was delivered to the Navajo Nation has something to do with Mr. Wengert's recommendation," the sheriff said.

Claw asked whether there had been any discussion with the affected agencies or any reports prepared to indicate that the changes were in the best interest of the people of Apache County. Richard Guinn of the Sheriff's Office said Wengert told them no, but that he believed it would be better.

There was no response to an e-mail request for comment sent Tuesday to Wengert's office.

Hounshell said Wednesday evening that during the meeting he told Wengert: "There's places in Apache County that you don't even know how to get to in such an emergency, and he said, 'If you can get there, I can get there.' So, basically they took it (Emergency Management) away from us."

Direct attack
Hounshell considers this latest lob from Wengert and the board "a direct attack since we delivered that equipment two weeks ago," he said, referring to delivery of the Homeland Security equipment to the Nation's headquarters in Window Rock.

"I feel, personally, that every time we make an effort to help agencies within the county, specifically this time the Navajo Nation they fire back on us using the bond as an excuse," Hounshell said.

One example of them working together was when County Attorney Criss Candelaria attended a chapter meeting last Friday at New Lands. He "got up and spoke against me in a chapter meeting, and I was not there to defend my agency," the sheriff said.

"And after he finished his speech and presented stuff about the bond and investigation to the people, they turned right around and approved a resolution supporting me and my agency unanimously at the chapter.

In the last week and a half, Wide Ruins Chapter, Fort Defiance Agency Council (17 chapters), Fort Defiance Chapter House, Lupton, and New Lands presented the sheriff with an overwhelming vote of confidence unanimous resolutions of support.

"We never solicited the resolution. It came from the people who want their voice to be heard. People have a right to voice their displeasure with Apache County government when it comes to the safety and welfare of their families," Hounshell said.

"This is a big ploy to stop the services we provide in northern Apache County. We've been asked a lot of direct questions about our services, what we do. Our mutual-aid agreement (with Navajo) has been brought up, and I just feel this is a personal attack, politically motivated, on the services we provide."

Tug-of-war
But when it comes to Emergency Management and Homeland Security, it's not just the northern part of Apache County that will be affected, but the county as a whole, the sheriff said. "Wengert in the meeting said, 'If there's an emergency, we'll get you involved.' "

"I said, 'No. If there's an emergency, I'll call you. I am the sheriff of the county. It's my job by statute to respond in emergencies, and we'll do that with or without you,' " Hounshell said.

"It's not his position to come out and respond to emergencies. That is my responsibility. And what this affects is, this could ultimately directly affect the Citizens Emergency Response Teams (CERT) that we have all across the Navajo Nation and southern Apache County."

"This is definitely going to cripple our operation," he said. "He doesn't realize that we may be facing the toughest fire season that we've had since 2002, and that was the toughest one in the history of Arizona."

The sheriff said CERT coordinators Lillian Chavez and Hugh Lynch have organized volunteer groups to be ready in case of an emergency.

Hounshell said that when the Board of Supervisors' actions become a public safety issue, "I think their interference with my office directly is handed down to the citizens. But I want the citizens to understand we will be there to take care of them.

"We will continue to work closely with all agencies in Apache County and we'll let them continue their attack. But I think it's important that the people know that it's gone too far."