Sheriff’s Office

We are “honored to serve and proud to protect” the citizens and land of Apache County. Apache County occupies 11,127 square miles in the northeast corner of Arizona. Larger than some states, it is the third largest of 15 counties in Arizona. Under the leadership of Sheriff Joseph Dedman, Jr., the Apache County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the full-time law enforcement duties in Apache County, which includes unincorporated towns and housing subdivisions.

Our Mission

The Office of the Apache County Sheriff shall preserve the peace and protect life and property in Apache County. While accountable to the public, we are committed to providing professional and impartial public service which promotes safe communities. We will maintain the public’s confidence and trust with honor, integrity, and dedication.

Our Vision

To be the leader in providing exemplary public safety services to all.

Our Values

Integrity
Exhibit honesty and strong moral principles 

Dedication
Devotion to duty, committed to our mission 

Respect
Honorable and compassionate treatment of all in order to preserve and nurture the trust and admiration of others 

Pride
In the achievements of the organization, in being worthy of the public trust, in wearing the uniform, in being part of the community 

Professionalism
Performing our duties to the best of our abilities while exhibiting a competent, courteous, conscientious, and vigilant manner

Duties and Responsibilities

With an office that employs 80 personnel, which include 28 certified deputies, the duties and responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office are extensive. 

Volunteer Assistance
Sheriff Dedman utilizes volunteer assistance with both the Reserve Deputy program and the Northern and Southern Apache County Posses as well as organized citizen groups for search and rescue. 

Prison System
The Apache County Sheriff’s Office houses all prisoners from the county courts as well as three incorporated city police departments. The Apache County jail only houses state inmates from the Federal Bureau of Prisons awaiting transfer to the Arizona Department of Corrections. We also contract with other county and tribal jurisdictions to house their inmates on an as needed basis.

Jurisdiction
Although a portion of Northern Apache County is Navajo Nation, Apache County has jurisdiction for all the non-native American population living on the Navajo Nation. 

Along with receiving and dispatching the routine and 911 calls for Apache County, the Apache County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center also receives and dispatches calls for three police departments, seven fire departments, and three ambulance companies. It also assists the United States Forest Service and Arizona Game and Fish officers.

Apache County Jail

Mission
The mission of the Apache County Jail is to provide safe, secure, constitutional, and humane care for pre-trial and sentenced inmates in the custody of the Apache County Sheriff’s Office and to provide a safe, secure, and professional environment for the facility staff. It is not our role to legislate, to render legal judgment, or to punish. 

The Facility
Completed on July 7, 1991, our facility has separate minimum, medium, and maximum security housing areas for both male and female inmates. It is also equipped with handicap-accessible cells. Each of the housing areas have telephones, which inmates may use to make collect and phone-card calls. Our facility also provides a commissary, a recreational yard, a library, an attorney-client room, a non-contact visiting area, a medical care room, a laundry, and a maintenance shop. 

Visitation
Onsite visitation is available Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. You must schedule all visits at least 24 hours in advance, and we allow only one visit per day per visitor. 

There are three ways to schedule a visit:

  1. Visit the lobby during business hours and schedule the visit on the visitation terminal. 
  2. Visit online using a high speed internet connection and a camera or a smartphone via Securus Technologies. 
  3. Call 1 (877) 578-3658. 

We make every attempt to notify visitors ahead of time if a scheduled visit has been canceled, but it’s best to call the jail before your visit to ensure that the inmate is eligible for a visit that day. 

The jail is in full lockdown every day from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; there are no visits during this time.

Contact Us

Apache County Sheriff’s Office
370 South Washington
St Johns, AZ 85936
P: (928) 337-4321 or 1 (800) 352-1850
F: (928) 337-2709  

Mailing Address:
PO Box 518
St. Johns, Arizona 85936 

Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday
6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.