Marshal Billy Cloud was sworn in Nov. 9 as a replacement for Larry Talvy, who had been in office for two years.

"(Cloud) had a very attractive background," said Randy Davis, the Tombstone police commissioner and city council member. "After interviewing him, he seemed like the man for the job."

Cloud is an U.S. Army veteran. After his service, he worked for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, assigned to the Bisbee/Douglas patrol squad where he was first a highway patrolman and then a detective.

Later, he supervised an investigative unit as part of a risk assessment team that
investigated smuggling organizations, public official corruption cases and threats against public employees.

Cloud joined the Patagonia Police Department as an officer in 2009. He was promoted to sergeant in 2010 before serving as interim police chief.

Cloud is a 42-year-old Sierra Vista resident. He has been married for more than 20 years, and has three children.

As a new face in the community, Cloud said he first wants to emphasize
communication, not only with the town but also with the county.

He said he plans to knock on doors and meet as many people in the town as he can, and give them a chance to explain any grievances they have.

As part of his focus on communication, deputies will be required to make 10 stops not related to law enforcement to get to know the community.

"Not when you're called to their house, not when you're pulling them over," he said. "Get out of your truck and walk around the neighborhoods and talk to people."

He believes that communication and transparency are the key to good law
enforcement, and he hopes making himself and his deputies more available will lead the community to talk more freely about possible illegal activity.

"This is not a slam on any previous marshal or any administration," he said. "It's just this is the way I'm going to be doing things."

Cloud was interim police chief in Patagonia at a time of waning public trust in the department. The previous chief was fired for refusing to live in Patagonia and accusations that he misused police vehicles.

"That experience alone will help me tremendously in dealing with what I need to deal with here," he said.

Cloud vows consistency in his warnings, citations and arrests.

"That doesn't mean everybody gets arrested, that doesn't mean everybody
gets a citation," he said. "Just consistent treatment no matter who you are."
He also plans to continue some of the previous marshal's projects – specifically getting 911 service to Tombstone.

Talvy began taking steps for his office to meet emergency service requirements nearly two years ago, which included 24-hour dispatch, up-to-date equipment and the requisite number of emergency calls. When he left, the marshal's office was on the verge of meeting those requirements.

"Any successes that Marshal Talvy had," Cloud said, "I'm going to build on them."