FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOHAVE COUNTY, AZ – The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office today announced its decision to separate from the Mohave County Sheriff’s K-9 Foundation, citing ongoing concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and the ability of the foundation to continue fulfilling its original purpose.

In 2017, a group of concerned citizens approached the Sheriff’s Office with the goal of establishing a nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting the K-9 Program. These citizens formed a 501(c)(3) organization with the stated mission that all donated funds would be used to bolster the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division. The Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to those original members who stepped forward with the vision of strengthening the K-9 Program and supporting public safety in Mohave County. Their dedication and fundraising efforts in the early years resulted in significant benefits for both the K-9 teams and the community.

Through the generous support of citizens, businesses, and organizations throughout Mohave County—and the diligent work of the foundation’s initiators—funds were raised to acquire, train, and care for K-9 teams serving the community. A major portion of these funds supported the early expense of purchasing K-9s and training their handlers, directly enhancing the division’s capabilities to serve and protect the public.

Donations were made with the clear understanding that they would benefit the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Program. However, over time, changes in the foundation’s leadership and membership led to concerns regarding its operations. These concerns included a lack of transparency and an unwillingness to supply the financial information necessary to ensure accountability—critical to confirming that donated funds were used in line with the foundation’s stated mission.

In an effort to resolve these issues, the Sheriff’s Office sought to work cooperatively with the foundation, asking for either a restoration of transparency or the transfer of the funds raised specifically for the K-9 Program. The foundation, however, declined to release the funds for the intended purpose, indicating that the existing funds would be directed elsewhere.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office respects the autonomy of private organizations but also has a duty to protect the integrity of its programs and honor the intent of the donors. In response, the Sheriff’s Office will be consulting with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to seek legal guidance and pursue appropriate remedies to safeguard the interests of the K-9 Program and the donors who supported it.

The commitment to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division remains steadfast. The K-9 teams continue to play an essential role in law enforcement, assisting with narcotics detection, apprehending dangerous offenders, conducting searches, and protecting both deputies and the public. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to accept direct donations for the benefit of the K-9 Program, ensuring that contributions support the mission of protecting the citizens of Mohave County.

Additional information will be provided as the situation develops.