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MGIO Unit
The Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO) Unit is a functionate in the Field Operations Division. The MGIO Unit is located in Graham County, Arizona, approximately 125 miles east of Tucson. Established just off U.S. Highway 191 on State Route 366, a.k.a. Swift Trail, the base camp project facilities consist of several offices, shop facilities and storage yards. The base camp is at milepost 114 on Swift Trail. Further up Swift Trail, is the entrance to the access road leading to the 150-acre Astrophysical Research Area at Emerald peak on Mount Graham. The currently developed 8.6-acre site consists of a construction staging area, biologists' work camp; several support buildings and three telescopes, the largest of which stands sixteen stories above ground level. The MGIO Division, provides law enforcement, initial fire suppression and medical services to the entire project. The same services are additionally provided by the MGIO officers along S.R. 366 between base camp and telescope site as well as covering the entire mountain and surrounding area on an as needed basis, via Intergovernmental agreements with Graham County and the United States Forest Service. All MGIO officers maintain current certifications
in the areas of law enforcement, wildland fire suppression and emergency
medical services (EMS). Officers are additionally certified as canine
handlers with two of these teams providing general patrol, apprehension
and tracking capabilities, while the other officers provide general patrol,
apprehension and narcotic detection capabilities. The officers are certified
as emergency medical technicians (EMT's) and provide the majority of medical
responses to the project.
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MGIO
officers throughout the calendar year operate in remote duty, rough terrain
and extreme weather conditions. Some officers are trained for and provided
general and specialized equipment and supplies to meet the most demanding
types of work conditions and are prepared to work for extended periods
of time at an elevations of 10,500 feet.
