Two YCSO Employees Honored For Providing a Quarter Century of Service

Published on September 03, 2025

Yavapai County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Russell and PANT Coordinator Crystal Johnson were honored at the Sept 3rd meeting of the Board of Supervisors for their 25 years of service to the county. YCSO Chief Deputy Jeff Newnum, in recognizing both a uniformed deputy and an administrative position, told the Supervisors that "every single job in our agency functions to bring public safety and to preserve the quality of life we enjoy in this county. We all act in one mission."

He referenced the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who wrote centuries before organized law enforcement that the greatest power should be given to those he called "the guardians". As Chief Newnum put it, "Plato said only those of impeccable character would be the guardians entrusted with protecting the democracy, and if the guardians fail, the democracy falls." He said YCSO personnel are such guardians and that they "daily bring order to chaos and confusion as they are exposed to the extremes of life."

Supervisors Chairman Mary Mallory told the meeting, "Law enforcement is a service of the heart. This community stands behind them. We are strong and we are united. Thank you for all you do for us every single day."

Aaron Russell has spent almost all of his 25 years with YCSO as a patrol deputy, after a brief stint working in the jail. He has over two decades on the SWAT team and has also served on the Critical Incident Stress Management Team and the Honor Guard. He also is an agency UAV (drone) pilot for critical incidents, accident reconstruction, Search and Rescue calls and more. Chief Newnum also commended Russell as "one of the best Field Training Officers we have ever had."

Crystal Johnson started with YCSO in Records 25 years ago and she also served as a 911 Dispatcher and an Area Command Administrative Assistant, before taking her current Admin role with the Narcotics and Human Trafficking task force 10 years ago. Her father is retired from YCSO.