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Meet the Sheriff

Sheriff David Hathaway was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona. He is a member of a five-generation ranching family that has lived in the area since the 1800s, before Arizona statehood. After graduating from the University of Arizona, he started his law enforcement career as a deputy sheriff with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office working under Sheriffs Teyechea and Bracamonte. He then embarked on a federal law enforcement career and Photo.jpgworked in multiple DEA offices in the U.S. and in foreign countries where he occupied various supervisory positions. His last assignment before retiring was as the head of the DEA office in Nogales. David and his wife Karen have both known each other since their public school days in Nogales. They have nine children together and several grandchildren. 

Sheriff Hathaway works to promote the diverse cultural and economic aspects of our communities ranging from the retail businesses, the vineyards, the ranching community, the arts, the fine-dining establishments, the produce industry, the maquiladora industry, and the tourist industry, to the many county and cross-border social events that have been a hallmark of the county and of “Ambos Nogales” for over a hundred years. He recognizes that Santa Cruz County has the largest ports of entry with Mexico of any county in Arizona and he works with government, industry, and social groups on both sides of the border to promote a strong, safe, economic and cultural relationship with Mexico. Besides preserving the safety of our county, he promotes it as a wonderful safe place to visit with beautiful weather and friendly people.  Sheriff Hathaway ensures that the members of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office focus on the basic law enforcement goals of public safety while serving the county as public servants and peace officers.

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