Taylor Town Council Agrees STPD Should Join Homicide Investigation Task Force

By Naomi Hatch
   Navajo County is forming a homicide investigation task force that will include at least one officer from each cooperating agency, as well as one person from the county attorney’s office.
   Snowflake-Taylor Police Chief Jerry VanWinkle was present at the March 10 Taylor Town Council meeting to request approval for the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department to enter an intergovernmental agreement with county law enforcement for mutual aid in homicide investigations.
   Chief VanWinkle explained that the agreement would authorize his department’s participation in investigating homicides that occur within Navajo County. He noted that if they have a homicide in Taylor, it takes every resource they have, which takes all officers off the street, making it so they cannot handle other calls.
   He said that with the creation of a homicide investigation team, there would be one investigator from each agency who would respond to Taylor and assist the special investigation team.
   All investigators on the team will receive special homicide investigation training that will benefit the community by properly and effectively investigating homicides that occur in our jurisdiction.
   All towns in Navajo County will participate, as well as Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Navajo County Major Crimes Apprehension Team and the Navajo County Attorney’s Office.
   Chief VanWinkle explained that if the homicide occurs in Taylor, the STPD investigator will take the lead, and the same will occur in the other communities.
   He further noted that Town Attorney Sterling Solomon has reviewed the agreement and given his verbal approval.
   After a brief discussion, the council unanimously approved authorizing Chief VanWinkle to enter into an agreement with county law enforcement for homicide investigations.
   In other business, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2009-03, petitioning the State Transportation Board and state legislators concerning the distribution formula for federal stimulus funding.
   Town Manager Eric Duthie said letters have been drafted to the State Transportation Board members and the legislators that encourage them to move forward with the agreement as it has been negotiated. The desire is that more rural communities in the state will get distributions from the fund.
   The council asked staff members to move forward in developing a commercial business agreement to establish a business at the Taylor Municipal Airport. Duthie said he felt this would be very beneficial to the town.
   The next council meeting was moved to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, due to spring break.