ST. GEORGE, UTAH — The Short Creek communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, might notice a change taking place recently regarding law enforcement officials.

The Arizona Law Enforcement Merit System Council under the Arizona Department of Public Safety made a “strong recommendation” which resulted in the Colorado City Marshal’s Office being rebranded to the Colorado City Police Department last year.

Chief Robb Radley said the state department gave all police agencies still using the term “Marshal” direction to transition to the term “Police.” There are several marshal’s offices in Arizona making the transition.

The title of marshal for the municipality level has been utilized in Arizona since Edward G. White was appointed marshal of Tombstone, Arizona, Territory on Jan. 6, 1880. It was then held by Virgil Earp after White was murdered on Oct. 30, 1880, which led to the reputation of Wyatt Earp, the Earp brothers and the shooting at the O.K.-Corral. The title has since been used throughout Arizona.

City manager Vance Barlow said in December 2022, the state government decided they needed to separate the confusion between federal U.S. Marshals and Arizona Marshals. The title of “marshal” is being dropped by many agencies, though some are still holding onto the historical namesake.

The Tombstone Marshal’s Office, via phone reported they are not dropping the marshal title.

“The change from the title Marshal’s Office comes with mixed feelings,” said Radley. “The current officers in the office worked diligently to restore the Marshal’s Office, to bring it up to current policing standards.”

He said they were able to restore the Marshal’s office with respect, but knew the transition to the term police was inevitable as the community has grown and the local government has matured.

Under the new police department structure, there are 10 positions. The hierarchal system is the chief, one lieutenant, one sergeant, one school resource officer, one K9 officer and several patrol officers.

Radley leads the department as the chief, while Mark Gower is the lieutenant and David Wilkinson is the sergeant. Both Gower and Wilkinson come with more than 57 years of law enforcement experience, including in investigations, patrol, animal control and civil law.

Radley said even though the titles have changed the commitment and duties of officers have stayed the same.

“The officers already had the mindset of being professional,” Radley said. “I would like the community to know. We are on the right path and changes will continue as we take steps along the way to employ the best policing practices.”

The rebranded department holds a unique characteristic that other transitioning Marshal’s offices do not. Being a border community, their jurisdiction covers communities in separate states.

Radley said they are currently working on being an accredited police department in both states. This entails an extensive 167-point review of the department by several other police departments to show they are meeting professional policing standards.

All officers will have to be Peace Officer Standard Training (P.O.S.T.) certified in both states.

“For us, working in both states day in and day out becomes just a regular thing we do,” said Radley.

Radley noted it requires officers to be diligent in keeping up with each state’s laws, as well as on legal decisions made at the federal level. Each state is in a different federal circuit court.

“It allows for seamless policing, where someone can not just run across the street and their crime(s) not be known or that law enforcement is delayed or handicapped by a line drawn in the sand,” Radley said.

The most observable changes are in the patches on their uniforms.

“With the heart of the change being the need to meet the state’s standards,” Radley said. “It became important to retain the heritage of the Marshal’s Office.”

The badge contains the words: Courage – Compassion – Integrity. The inset of the badge depicts the El Cap peak of the Canaan Mountains that overlook Hildale. The Saguaro cactus and the cottonwood tree are present illustrating Colorado City.

Centered in the badge is the Utah beehive backed by the sunbeams of Arizona. The police vehicles have been remarked with more modern and higher visibility logos.

“Our office sees it as a time to set the tone and foundation for the future of policing in the community,” Radley said.

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