There are few factors more important to a community than the safety of its members.
Camp Verde is no different in this regard. With the recent release of the SafeWise Annual Report’s “Annual 20 Safest Cities in Arizona Report,” the town has more to crow about in regard to guaranteeing its citizens’ security.
“The SafeWise Report has been acknowledged by The Huffington Post, Mashable, AngiesList, Homes.com and many other nationally-recognized publications as a trusted resource for people looking to relocate to Arizona, and it’s a huge point of pride for the communities they honor,” Camp Verde Marshal’s Office Public Information Officer Darby Martin stated via press release. “This is the second year in a row that Camp Verde has earned a spot.”
Martin called it a “true testament” of the community — not only its public safety personnel, but its city employees, residents and visitors.
It is the visitors, in fact, that are prioritized by many area businesses. As in much of the Verde Valley, tourism is a main economic driver and a source of new investment. Fostering a safe environment means increased economic activity, making Camp Verde more attractive for all.
“Businesses choose where they locate for a variety of reasons — access to transportation, adequate workforce, land prices and other economic factors,” Town Economic Development Director Steve Ayers said. “But they also have an interest in the ‘livability’ of a community. And safety is a key livability measure. So when a report like this comes out, it says a lot of good things, measurable things, about who you are as a community.
“It speaks not only to those businesses or individuals who may have an interest in coming here, but to those who have already made Camp Verde their home.”
Martin added that honest and open intersection between city officials — namely, officers with the Marshal’s Office — and community members is one of the main reasons Camp Verde has ranked so highly in safety measures.
“I think our officers and community work very well together,” Martin said. “I think our citizens feel very comfortable communicating with the marshals and looking out for each other …. I’ve seen a lot more people coming into the lobby to report things recently.”
Such an environment, of course, does not arise out of nothing. Martin praised Marshal Nancy Gardner, who for the last three years has prioritized community outreach, encouraging public involvement in police work. Events like Coffee with a Cop, which occurs the last Monday of each month at 8 a.m. at Thanks a Latte, do much to integrate law enforcement with the citizenry.
With the help of the recently hired Cmdr. Jacquelyn MacConnell — in her position for approximately a month — the marshal’s office will only become more a part of the community. According to Martin, MacConnell is “really big on community outreach.”
