Mohave Valley sheriff's substation needs staff, space

A new study shows the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office needs to almost double its staff and space at the Mohave Valley substation within the next 15 years, at an estimated cost of over $8 million.

The needs assessment, by RNL Design, was accepted by the Board of Supervisors earlier this month and will be the subject of a formal presentation Monday.

The report estimates it will cost the county $8.13 million to upgrade the Mohave Valley substation to a 26,010-square-foot facility, if all options are exercised. That includes moving the facility to a new location on land donated to the county about 10 years ago. The proposed site is on Andrew Road, between Sierra Road and Camino Colorado and is planned to house the substation, a Ft. Mohave fire station and a park.

The report shows the substation is already understaffed for its current workload at 22 patrol division and support staff. RNL reports should have a staff of 35, only two of which would be office assistants, and staffing should grow to 52 by 2015.

It also suggests planning for a minimum of 50 prisoner beds to satisfy current needs with room to expand to the projected need of 75 beds by 2021.

The result would also mean an increase in the number of correctional staff at the substation. Currently, the substation has a jail staff of six but that number would climb to 12 if the needed 50 beds are put in place, and the staff level jumps to 19 if the facility houses 75 prisoners.

The study shows that the county is expected to see a population jump to upward of 424,000 people by 2025, which will result in a corresponding climb in arrests and bookings countywide. The most recent statistics provided by RNL shows that total arrests in the county have climbed 43.4 percent between 1995 and 2005, to a total of 16,041, just under 10 percent of the county’s 2005 population estimate of 186,617.

County spokesman Darryle Purcell said focusing on the Mohave Valley substation and not including the Lake Havasu facility was the decision of the Sheriff’s Office. “The sheriff comes up with the scope of the needs assessment and passes it through.”

But Sheriff Tom Sheahan said his office made the capital request for both substations and the main jail in fiscal year 2003-04.

“The biggest need is the jail bed space. We we’re hoping for a minimum of 50 beds in each substation,” Sheahan said.

He acknowledged that, given the economy and the budget crisis affecting all levels of government, any projects that have not already been approved will be put on hold. But once the economy improves, Sheahan said he has an idea that could work to the benefit of county and Lake Havasu City residents alike.

“With the city expanding so much along (State Route) 95, I would like to see a shared building with the city police or fire in the future, if the city is interested. It would be very cost effective for both of us,” Sheahan said.

RNL was also the firm that conducted the analysis for the main county jail, a plan that was adopted in 2007 and will be implemented this year. That study found that the county will need to house 688 prisoners by 2010, the number of beds the board approved 2-to-1 Feb. 19. The facility will also have room to expand to 832 bunks.

Faulkner USA was hired to develop the jail under the design-build process for a cost not to exceed $74 million.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.

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