The City of Sierra Vista, Arizona, when incorporated
in 1956 was a tiny community of 1,671 people located on the
doorstep of a then recently reopened Fort Huachuca. At that
time the city encompassed approximately two square miles.
This fledgling municipality hired its first full-time police
officer on April 1, 1957. The first dramatic population
increase came in 1971 with the annexation of Fort Huachuca
(115 square miles) into the city. As a result of this and
other annexations the City now covers about 138 square miles.

Between 1971 and 2000 Sierra Vista grew to become Arizona's
13th largest city. In April 2005, the service population in
Sierra Vista was estimated at 31,461. This figure excludes
the 11,344 persons who reside on Fort Huachuca. While the
residents of Fort Huachuca are citizens of Sierra Vista
their number is not included in police department planning
or analysis projects because the city does not provide police
services on the military reservation.

The Sierra Vista Police Department is currently authorized
63 sworn officers and 35 civilian employees. The Department's
Communication Bureau dispatches public safety calls for Police,
Fire, and Emergency Medical Services within the city limits.
In 2004, approximately 29,162 calls for service were processed
and responded to.

Volunteers have been active in the City of Sierra Vista for
many years. In 1990 it was decided that a volunteer program
should be organized to utilize volunteers within the Police
Department. Chief Montgomery in full support of the program
hired the first paid full time coordinator in 1998 to oversee
the volunteer program.

Volunteers are an important asset to the Sierra Vista Police
Department. Today, there are volunteer positions in almost
every bureau of the Department and the program is continually
growing. During 2004, volunteers donated a total of 10,886 hours
of service to the Department, which equals a savings of over
$120,000 in salary for the year. That total was the most ever
recorded since our volunteer program began.