Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The Honorable Warren Petersen
President, Arizona State Senate
The Honorable Steve Montenegro
Speaker, Arizona House of Representatives
Members of the Arizona Legislature
Re: Support for School Safety Interoperability Funding
Dear President Petersen, Speaker Montenegro, and Members of the Legislature:
On behalf of the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association, we write to express our strong support for continued funding for school safety interoperability and to respectfully urge the Legislature to include this critical investment in the final budget this session.
Arizona’s sheriffs work every day with schools, police departments, fire districts, emergency medical providers, county officials, and community partners to prepare for the unthinkable. In a school safety incident or crisis, seconds matter. The ability of responding agencies to communicate quickly, clearly, and effectively can make the difference between confusion and coordination, delay and response, and ultimately life and death.
School safety interoperability funding helps ensure that counties can continue building and maintaining the systems, training, and partnerships necessary for a coordinated public safety response. These investments support real collaboration between sheriffs’ offices, schools, local law enforcement agencies, and emergency responders across Arizona. Continued state investment helps ensure school safety preparedness.
The Arizona Sheriffs’ Association supports funding that strengthens school safety interoperability, improves emergency communication, and enhances readiness among schools and first responders. We respectfully ask the Legislature to preserve and prioritize this funding so sheriffs and their public safety partners can continue the work necessary to protect Arizona students, educators, and communities.
Thank you for your continued commitment to public safety and for your support of Arizona’s schools, families, and law enforcement professionals. We stand ready to work with you to ensure these funds are used responsibly and effectively to improve school safety statewide.
Respectfully,
David Clouse
President
Media inquiries: 602-252-6563 or via the Media Center.
