Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll launched his career in law enforcement at a high rate of speed. Literally.
He joined the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy in May of 1974. Driscoll has spent more than 40 years behind the badge, yet he can still describe his first few hours in law enforcement with detail and the excitement of a person who is still very much in love with their career.
kAm“|J 7:CDE 52J @? E96 ;@3[ x 8@E :?E@ 2 9:89\DA665 492D6[ H:E9 EH@ 6D42A66D 7C@> E96 DE2E6 AC:D@? FA 2?5 5@H? x\`f] %96J H6C6 2C>65[â€� sC:D4@== C642==65] “x H2D 36:?8 EC2:?65] ]]] (6 8@E 2? 2EE6>AE E@ =@42E6 2?5 H6C6 =@@<:?8[ A2C<65 @? E96 D:56 @7 E96 C@25] xE H2D?’E 7:G6 >:?FE6D =2E6C 2?5 E9:D 42C H:E9 E96 6D42A66D 5C@G6 C:89E 3J FD 2?5 E96 7F? DE2CE65]â€k^Am
kAm%96 DFDA64ED 6G6?EF2==J DE@AA65[ 3FE C67FD65 E@ 86E @FE @7 E96:C 42Cj E96J H6C6 F=E:>2E6=J E2<6? :?E@ 4FDE@5J] sC:D4@== C6>6>36CD E96 H2C56? 4@>:?8 E@ 4@==64E E96 6D42A66D 2?5 E96 CFD9 E92E 7@==@H65]k^Am
kAm“x�> E9:?<:?8[ 7:CDE 52J @? E96 C@25n x7 >J =:76 2?5 7FEFC6 :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E9:D[ H@HP %9:D H2D ;FDE 23D@=FE6 7F?[� sC:D4@== D2:5[ 6J6D EH:?<=:?8]k^Am
kAm}@H[ sC:D4@== 92D 366? ?2>65 $96C:77 @7 E96 *62C 3J E96 (6DE6C? $E2E6D $96C:77’D pDD@4:2E:@? @7 r@F?E:6D] w6 C646:G65 E96 2H2C5 :? #6?@ E9:D >@?E9 27E6C 36:?8 ?@>:?2E65 3J }2G2;@ r@F?EJ $96C:77 s2G:5 r=@FD6]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D ?@>:?2E:@? =6EE6C[ r=@FD6 56D4C:365 sC:D4@== 2D Q2 EC2?D7@C>2E:@?2= =6256C :? 3@E9 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96 D96C:77’D @77:46]â€k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E2<:?8 @? E92E =6256CD9:A C@=6[ 2?5 36:?8 6=64E65 r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ $96C:77 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? a_`f[ sC:D4@== 62C?65 6IA6C:6?46 :? A2EC@=[ :? ;2:= 2?5 56E6?E:@? D6CG:46D[ $(p%[ 92K2C5 AC6A2C65?6DD 2?5 >2?286>6?E[ :?E6C?6E :?E6==:86?46 82E96C:?8[ D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6[ 2?5 :?4:56?E >2?286>6?E]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ sC:D4@== 56D4C:36D 9:D 564256D\=@?8 42C66C 2D 2 ;@J 2?5 EC6>6?5@FD AC:G:=686] w6 D2:5 96’D 6?;@J65 6G6CJ 52J @? E96 ;@3[ 3FE E92E :D?’E E@ D2J 6G6CJ 52J 92D 366? 7F?]k^Am
kAmx? E96 DF>>6C @7 `hha[ sC:D4@== DA6?E ;FDE E9C66 52JD 2E 9@>6 H:E9 9:D 72>:=J] w6 H2D @?6 @7 E96 @77:46CD :?G@=G65 :? E96 D62C49 7@C s2??J w@C?:?8[ 2 4@?G:4E65 32?< C@336C H9@ 6D42A65 7C@> AC:D@? 2?5 3642>6 E96 DF3;64E @7 E96 =2C86DE >2?9F?E :? DE2E6 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 E96 2FE9@C:E:6D =@@<:?8 7@C D62D@?65 DFCG:G2=:DE w@C?:?8[ H9@ H6?E D@ 72C 2D E@ <:5?2A 2 A2:C @7 qC:E:D9 E@FC:DED E@ 6G256 42AEFC6[ sC:D4@== C642==D D=66A:?8 F?56C A:?6 EC66D 2?5 =:G:?8 @FE @7 2 A2EC@= G69:4=6]k^Am
k9cmu2>:=J 4@??64E:@?k^9cm
kAmsC:D4@==’D 72>:=J >@G65 E@ r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ :? E96 `hd_D] pD 2 3@J[ 96 6?;@J65 9F?E:?8 2?5 7:D9:?8] w6 H2D :?:E:2==J 5C2H? E@ E96 $96C:77’D ~77:46 3J E96 AC@>:D6 @7 D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6[ 2?5 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ H@C< @FED:56]k^Am
kAm%96 D@? @7 2 =2HJ6C[ sC:D4@== H2D @?6 @7 E9C66 3@JD \\ 2== @7 H9@> E@@< FA 42C66CD :? =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] w6 56D4C:36D 92G:?8 8C62E 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 2E 9@>6 23@FE A9:=@D@A9J 2?5 H92E :E >62?D E@ AC@E64E 2?5 D6CG6]k^Am
kAmsC:D4@==[ :? 9:D 2AAC@249 E@ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[ 6IA=2:?65 96’D 7@4FD65 @? EH@ :>A@CE2?E E9:?8Di 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 2?5 ECFDE]k^Am
kAm“|J A9:=@D@A9:42= 2AAC@249 E@ E9:D ;@3 92D 2=H2JD 366? E92E H6[ 2?J =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[ 6I:DE E@ D6CG6 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] x’G6 C62==J DEC6DD65 E92E H:E9 E96 56A2CE>6?E D:?46 364@>:?8 D96C:77] ~FC ;@3 :D E@ D6CG6 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ[� 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmsC:D4@== D2:5 96 E9:?<D @7 E96 $96C:77’D ~77:46 2D 36:?8 G6CJ 4=@D6 E@ E96 A6@A=6 :E D6CG6D] s6AFE:6D 2C6 @FE :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ @? A2EC@=[ 3FE E96J 2=D@ =625 D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6 4C6HD]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 >@DE C646?E D6C:6D @7 D?@HDE@C>D[ r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ $96C:77’D s6AFE:6D =@2565 D=65D H:E9 7@@5 2?5 AC@A2?6 E2?<D] p44@C5:?8 E@ sC:D4@==[ E96J @7E6? 56=:G6C65 E9@D6 DFAA=:6D @? 7@@E[ FA :>A2DD23=6 C@25D E@ A6@A=6 H9@ ?66565 E96> 2?5 H6C6 DEC2?565 3J E96 DE@C>]k^Am
kAm“{2H 6?7@C46>6?E :D ?@E ;FDE 23@FE 6?7@C4:?8 =2HD[ 3FE AC@G:5:?8 D6CG:46 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ[â€� sC:D4@== D2:5] â€�%@52J xâ€�== 36 5@:?8 D@>6 DH62C\:?D @7 ?6H 6>A=@J66D] (6 2=H2JD AC@G:56 E92E 5:D4FDD:@? E92E H6 DFCG:G6 @? AF3=:4 ECFDE] x7 E96 AF3=:4 42??@E ECFDE FD[ H6 42?’E 36 67764E:G6 :? @FC ;@3] x E2=< E@ E96> 23@FE E92E] }@H E92E E96J’G6 8@?6 E9C@F89 E92E 6IE6?D:G6 AC@46DD E@ 36 23=6 E@ 8@ E@ H@C< 96C6 â€� :E’D 2? 6IE6?D:G6 324<8C@F?5 2?5 2 G6CJ :?G2D:G6 324<8C@F?5 :? A6@A=6’D A6CD@?2= DA246] %96J’C6 D9@H:?8 E92E E96J’C6 H@CE9J @7 AF3=:4 ECFDE[ E92E E96J H@?’E 5@ 2?JE9:?8 E@ 6C@56 @C 42FD6 2 =@DD @7 E92E AF3=:4 ECFDE]â€k^Am
kAmsC:D4@==’D 42A24:EJ 7@C AFEE:?8 ECFDE 2?5 AF3=:4 D6CG:46 7:CDE :D 2 C62D@? H9J 96 H2D ?@>:?2E65 $96C:77 @7 E96 *62C]k^Am
kAmâ€�$96C:77 sC:D4@== :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ 62C?:?8 AF3=:4 ECFDE 2?5 6?DFC:?8 AC@76DD:@?2= 2?5 BF2=:EJ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E E@ E96 A6@A=6 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D @7 r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ[â€� r=@FD6 D2:5] “w6 :D 24E:G6 A6CD@?2==J 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2==J :? >2EE6CD E92E 27764E 4@>>F?:EJ BF2=:EJ @7 =:76]â€k^Am
kAmpD >F49 2D sC:D4@== 56D4C:365 9:D 56=:89E 2E E92E 7:CDE 9:89\DA665 492D6[ :E’D E96 >@>6?ED H96C6 A6@A=6’D =:G6D H6C6 :>AC@G65[ D2G65 @C G2=F65 E92E E96 D96C:77 56D4C:365 2D E96 8C62E6DE 9:89=:89ED :? 9:D 42C66C]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 42F89E 325 8FJD] x’G6 42F89E >FC56C6CD] x’G6 42F89E C@336CD] $EF77 =:<6 E92E] x E9:?< E96 >@DE D:8?:7:42?E :>A24E H2D E96 52J E92E H6 7@F?5 2 b\J62C\@=5 8:C= H9@ 925 H2?56C65 2H2J 7C@> 96C 42>A :? E96 A62<D[â€� sC:D4@== D2:5] “u:?5:?8 E92E =:EE=6 8:C= 2?5 8:G:?8 96C 324< E@ 96C A2C6?ED H2D AC@323=J @?6 @7 E96 >@C6 :>A24E7F= E9:?8D] v:G:?8 2 =:76 324< E@ 2 <:5[ 2 <:5 324< E@ E96:C A2C6?ED[ H2D ;FDE A96?@>6?2=]â€k^Am
kAmx? E96 D96C:77’D 42C66C[ 96’D H@C<65 E@ 8:G6 A6@A=6 E96:C =:G6D 324< :? @E96C H2JD[ E@@]k^Am
k9cm{@42= AC@8C2>Dk^9cm
kAmp?@E96C C62D@? 7@C 9:D $96C:77 @7 E96 *62C ?@>:?2E:@? :D sC:D4@==’D :?G@=G6>6?E :? E96 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 :>A=6>6?E2E:@? @7 E96 !2E9H2JD E@ r@>>F?:EJ 2?5 tI@5FD AC@8C2>D 2E E96 r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ y2:=]k^Am
kAm�%96 3:886DE A2CE @7 @FC @A6C2E:@? :D @FC ;2:=] ~G6C f_T @7 H92E H6 5@ H:E9:? @FC 56A2CE>6?E :D 7@4FD65 2C@F?5 E96 ;2:=[� sC:D4@== D2:5[ 56D4C:3:?8 E96 e__\365 724:=:EJ :? u=28DE277 2?5 E96 cg\365 ;2:= :? !286 E92E 9:D @77:46 :D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C >2?28:?8] “tI@5FD 2?5 !2E9H2JD E@ >6 2C6 EH@ @7 E96 8C62E6DE AC@8C2>D E92E H6 4@F=5 6G6C 5@] x E9:?< E96 7FEFC6 @7 ;2:=D :? @FC 4@F?ECJ :D ?@E 23@FE :?42C46C2E:@?] xE’D 23@FE AC@8C2>>:?8]Qk^Am
kAmtI@5FD :D 2 h_\52J EC62E>6?E AC@8C2> 56D:8?65 E@ 96=A A6@A=6 C64@G6C 7C@> DF3DE2?46 23FD6 5:D@C56CD H9:=6 E96J’C6 369:?5 32CD] %92E AC@8C2> H2D =2F?4965 H96? $96C:77 q:== !C:3:= H2D 2E E96 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4J’D 96=>[ 3FE :E’D 366? 25G@42E65 7@C 2?5 DFAA@CE65 3J sC:D4@==]k^Am
kAm�(6 92G6 :?>2E6D :? 4FDE@5J 7@C 2 D9@CE E:>6[ >2J36 2 >@?E9[ >2J36 2 J62C] (9:=6 H6 92G6 E96>[ H9J ?@E AC@G:56 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C E96> E@ EFC? E96:C =:76 2C@F?5n� 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 tI@5FD :D 23@FE 96=A:?8 A6@A=6 :? ;2:=[ !2E9H2JD :D 23@FE 96=A:?8 A6@A=6 EC2?D:E:@? @FE @7 ;2:= DF446DD7F==J] %92E AC@8C2> :D ?6H[ 2?5 :E :D 2 A@:?E @7 AC:56 7@C E96 D:EE:?8 D96C:77]k^Am
kAmâ€�(6 D2H 2=D@ E96C6 H2D 2 82A] (96? >2?J A6@A=6 8@E @FE @7 ;2:=[ 27E6C 2 76H 52JD E96J H@F=5 H2=< @FE E96 5@@C 2?5 6?5 FA C:89E 324< :? E96 ?6:893@C9@@5 @C E96 4C@H5 E92E E96J 42>6 7C@> E92E 8@E E96> :?E@ EC@F3=6] %96Jâ€�5 6?5 FA 324< :? E92E D2>6 6?G:C@?>6?E[â€� sC:D4@== D2:5] â€�(92E !2E9H2JD 5@6D :D AC@G:56 2? 2DD6DD>6?E 7C@> E96 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E[ H9@ :D @FC AC:>2CJ A2CE?6C] %96 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E 4@>6D :? 2?5 5@6D 2? 2DD6DD>6?E @7 E9:D :?5:G:5F2=] s@ E96J ?665 9@FD:?8n s@ E96J ?665 DF3DE2?46 23FD6 EC62E>6?En s@ E96J ?665 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?n pC6 E96J 2 G6En s@ E96J ?665 >6?E2= 962=E9 D6CG:46Dnâ€k^Am
kAm%96 D96C:77 56D4C:365 !2E9H2JD 2D 2 <:?5 @7 �8:7E D9@A[Q 2 A=246 H96C6 A6@A=6 42? 2446DD C6D@FC46D @? E96:C H2J @FE @7 ;2:= � H92E6G6C E9@D6 C6D@FC46D >:89E 36]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 C646?E D6C86 @7 H:?E6C DE@C>D[ !2E9H2JD 96=A65 A6@A=6 H9@ 42>6 :?E@ E96 ;2:= H62C:?8 7=:A\7=@AD E@ D64FC6 H:?E6C 4@2ED 2?5 D276 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? FA@? C6=62D6[ sC:D4@== D2:5]k^Am
kAm�%92E :D H96C6 H6 ?665 E@ 36 8@:?8 :? ;2:=D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ] tIE6?5:?8 E92E 42C6 H96? E96J 86E @FE @7 ;2:= E@ H96C6 E96J’C6 9@@<65 FA :>>65:2E6=J H:E9 E92E 42C6 2?5 AC@G:565 D6CG:46D[� sC:D4@== D2:5]k^Am
k9cm(92EVD ?6IEk^9cm
kAm{@@<:?8 E@ E96 7FEFC6[ sC:D4@== D2:5 96 42? D66 E96 ?665D @7 r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ 72DE @FEA24:?8 E96 8C@HE9 @7 E96 $96C:77’D ~77:46]k^Am
kAmâ€�(6 ?665 E@ 8C@H] %96C6 2C6 56>2?5D @FE E96C6 2?5 ?665D E92E H6’C6 ?@E 23=6 E@ >66E C:89E ?@H 5F6 E@ DE277:?8[â€� 96 D2:5] â€�(6’C6 D42EE6C65[ H6 ;FDE 5@?’E 92G6 6?@F89 DE277 E@ 255C6DD 2== @7 E9@D6 :DDF6D 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6] $@>6 2C6 C64C62E:@?[ H:E9 42>A:?8[ H:E9 7:C6 A@E6?E:2=]â€k^Am
kAmxE 42? 36 492==6?8:?8 E@ 9:C6 56AFE:6D 3642FD6 =@H6C\DEC6DD ;@3D 42? @7E6? @776C >@C6 4@>A6E:E:G6 H286D 2?5 36?67:ED] |62?H9:=6[ E96 4@F?EJ :D 8C@H:?8]k^Am
kAmsC:D4@== C6>6>36CD E96 u=28DE277 @7 E96 `hf_D[ 2 E@H? H:E9 2 7C24E:@? @7 E@52JVD A@AF=2E:@?] xE’D ?@E ;FDE E96 DE2E:@?2CJ A@AF=2E:@?[ E96 A@@= @7 =@42=D[ E92E’D 8C@H:?8[ E96 D96C:77 @3D6CG65]k^Am
kAm“x D66 E9:D 9F86 :?7=FI @7 C64C62E:@? :?E@ @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] }@H[ :E’D J62C\C@F?5] xE FD65 E@ 36 ;FDE :? E96 DF>>6C] x E9:?< H6 D66 E92E H:E9 E96 H:?E6C C64C62E:@? E92E’D 8@:?8 @? @FE 96C6] %96C6 FD65 E@ 36 D9@F=56C D62D@?D] xE’D D@ A24<65 7F== @7 A6@A=6 C:89E ?@H[” sC:D4@== D2:5] “%96 >:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 E92E 4@>6 E9C@F89 @FC 4@F?EJ 6G6CJ J62C[ >@DE=J 7C@> G69:4=6D[ E96J 86E =@DE] %96J 86E DEF4<] %96J 364@>6 4C:>6 G:4E:>D] %96J’C6 6?82865 :? 4C:>:?2= 24E:G:EJ E96>D6=G6D] p== @7 E96> H:== 6G6?EF2==J 92G6 ,=2H 6?7@C46>6?E. 4@?E24E] (6 92G6 366? 5:D4@G6C65[ :E D66>D]”k^Am
kAmsC:D4@== 9@A6D E@ D66 >@C6 A6@A=6 :?E6C6DE65 :? AFCDF:?8 2 42C66C =:<6 E96 @?6 96’D 6?;@J65] #67=64E:?8 @? E92E 42C66C’D 368:??:?8[ 96 :D BF:4< E@ 8:G6 4C65:E E@ 9:D DFAA@CE DJDE6>D]k^Am
kAm“}@3@5J :D DF446DD7F= 3J E96>D6=G6D[� sC:D4@== D2:5] w6 2=D@ >6?E:@?65 E96 :>>6?D6 DFAA@CE 96’D C646:G65 7C@> 72>:=J � 7:CDE 7C@> 9:D 72E96C[ 2?5 E96? 7C@> 9:D H:76[ 2 =@?8E:>6 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@= E62496C sC:D4@== 56D4C:36D 2D 92G:?8 �72:=65 C6E:C6>6?E E9C66 E:>6D� :? @C56C E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 4=2DDC@@>]k^Am
kAmsC:D4@==’D $96C:77 @7 E96 *62C pH2C5 42>6 2D 2 DFCAC:D6 E@ 9:>[ 2=36:E 2 H6=4@>6 @?6] x? 2446AE:?8 E9:D >@DE C646?E 244@=256[ sC:D4@== 4C65:E65 E96 >6?E@CD E92E 96=A65 9:> 7:?5 9:D H2J 2D 2 56AFEJ[ 2? :?E6C:> A@=:46 49:67 :? $65@?2 W7@C 2 3C:67 E:>6 :? a_`_X[ 2?5 2D 4@F?EJ D96C:77] w6 2=D@ 6IAC6DD6D 566A 8C2E:EF56 E@ 9:D 4@==628F6D 2?5 DE277 � A2DE 2?5 AC6D6?E]k^Am
kAm~G6C E:>6[ sC:D4@== 92D H@C<65 E@ 36 D@>6H92E @7 2 >6?E@C 9:>D6=7[ 2D D96C:77[ 3FE 2=D@ 2D 2 =6256C H:E9:? E96 pC:K@?2 !6246 ~77:46CD $E2?52C5D 2?5 %C2:?:?8 q@2C5 Wp+ !@DEX] pE @?6 A@:?E[ 96 =65 2 56=682E:@? E@ z2K2<9DE2? E@ E6249 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6 D<:==D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C :>A2CE:?8 D<:==D 2?5 H:D5@> 82:?65 5FC:?8 2 42C66C 565:42E65 E@ 3F:=5:?8 ECFDE 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 D6CG:46[ E96 a_ab $96C:77 @7 E96 *62C :D =@@<:?8 E@ 4=@D6 2 =@?8 2?5 :>A@CE2?E 492AE6C :? 9:D A6CD@?2= 9:DE@CJ 2?5 E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 4@F?EJ]k^Am
kAmâ€�%9:D :D >J =2DE E6C>[ xâ€�> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ CF? 282:?] xE’D E:>6] xâ€�== 92G6 d_ J62CD H:E9 E96 4@F?EJ H96? x =62G6[ 2?5 :E’D E:>6 E@ A2DD E96 E@C49] x H@F=5 9@A6 E92E x’G6 AC@G:565 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C A6@A=6 E@ DE6A :?E@ =6256CD9:A A@D:E:@?D @G6C >J 42C66C 2?5 =62C?[â€� sC:D4@== D2:5] “x E9:?< E96 8C62E6DE =6824J E92E x 42? =62G6 :D DF446DD 7@C E96 56A2CE>6?E]â€k^Am