History of Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers of Pima County, Inc

In 1978, the Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers of Pima County, Inc introduced the Citizen Bear to Green Valley. The Citizen Bear was comprised of Green Valley volunteers who facilitated the use of Citizen Band radios for communication. At this time, the role of the Citizen Bear in the community was limited to search operations and home visits. Although volunteerism was in its infancy at this time, the Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers of Pima County, Inc was a national leader. With that in mind, it was no surprise that newly-elected Sheriff Clarence Dupnik decided to expand volunteerism even further.

Sheriff Dupnik tasked a group of individuals to develop a larger, more comprehensive group of volunteers. The focus was to develop a program that would model the Green Valley Citizen Bear group while serving all of unincorporated Pima County.

The New Concept of Volunteerism

The initial progression was slow; however, the department soon learned that the talent of the volunteers vastly exceeded our expectations. The Citizen Bear program evolved into a new concept of volunteerism. This evolution also prompted a change in the name. Our volunteers came to be known as the Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers of Pima County, Inc.

It did not take long for the responsibilities of this volunteer organization to expand far beyond what was initially anticipated. The following are a few examples:

  • 1982 Crime Prevention Education
  • 1983 Home Security Presentations
  • 1984 Neighborhood Watch
  • 1984 Fingerprinting
  • 1985 Generalized Patrol Operations
  • 2006 Parks Patrol
  • 2012 Scam Squad
  • 2014 Vacation Checks
  • 2015 Bike Patrol

The Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers of Pima County, Inc (SAV) are exceptionally trained individuals who extraordinarily represent the department. Since 1981, this non-profit volunteer organization has provided over 1 million hours of service to the community. Through their contributions, the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers are a vital part of our efforts to enhance the quality of life within the community we serve.