jonnybehan

Born October 23, 1844 in Kansas City, Missouri. Johnny Behan was one of nine children. Behan moved to the Arizona Territory in 1863, taking up residence in Prescott, Arizona. While in Prescott he took up both politics and law enforcement. In the summer of 1880, he moved to Tombstone knowing that the area was going to split and there would be a county seat coming available.. After the split of Pima County which contained Tombstone to Cochise County, Behan was appointed as the first Sheriff of Cochise County. He was portrayed as a county law man and friend of Ike Clanton, Curly Bill Brocius, Johnny Ringo and a group of Mexican cattlemen known as the Cowboys.

Sheriff Behan would witness the shootout at the OK Corral and later claim he attempted to stop the fight. Behan in court testified that the Earps ignored his warning, that if they attempted to disarm the McLaurys and Clantons it would result in violence. He later lead a posse in search of the Earps during the Vendetta Ride, but to no avail. In September 1882 he lost his nomination and was forced out of office. He died on June 7, 1912 of Bright's disease.