Chris Vásquez: ‘Keep me as your sheriff’

I intend to be your Sheriff of Pinal County for the next four years. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is an agency of more than 640 employees with a multi-million-dollar budget. I am a law enforcement professional of more than 30 years who possess the skills, leadership and vision to lead this agency.

I retired from the Casa Grande Police Department as lieutenant after 20 years of service. In fact, my entire law enforcement career has been in Pinal County. I have more than 15 years of supervisory, management, command and executive experience in the field of law enforcement. I possess a bachelor of arts in management and a master of arts in organizational management. My degrees go directly to what I do, and that is to manage and lead a medium-sized agency.

I am a native of Pinal County born in Casa Grande, raised in Eloy. I am married with seven grandchildren and live in Casa Grande with my wife of 18 years, Patricia. I have been in public service all of my adult life, first in the military, I am a Vietnam veteran, and now of law enforcement. I am active in civic organizations throughout Pinal County.

I have a deep love for this county because my family roots have been here starting with my Great Grandfather and now my grandchildren. My number goal is keeping Pinal County a safe place for them and you, the citizens of Pinal County.

We at the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office are still facing many challenges in keeping up with the rapid growth in population, meth issues, copper wire thefts and immigration issues. I will always look for innovative ways to deliver law enforcement services to the citizens of Pinal County.

Since I became Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office has been awarded grants totaling more than $1 million. The grants we have been awarded paid overtime to investigate crimes of violence in our neighborhoods, created a domestic violence investigative unit, and placed two deputies in the state anti-gang task force, G.I.I.T.E.M., with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The following are some of my accomplishments since being elected in 2006. I established a Crime Suppression Unit to target criminal activity; implemented a Traffic Enforcement Unit and implemented a Photo Radar Program that has reduced speeding and accidents; created a Citizens on Patrol Program consisting of volunteers from the community; established a Business Watch Program; increased Citizen Involvement in Neighborhood Block Watch Programs; expanded the Senior Lifeline Program and brought a Realtor Lock Box Program for Senior Citizens; changed into black-and-white patrol vehicles to increase visibility in neighborhoods; began the process of placing mobile data computers in patrol vehicles that will increase deputy productivity and keep them on the streets; and established a part-time bicycle patrol program designed to patrol, schools, parks and neighborhoods in an effort to catch crimes in progress that already produced significant results.

Also, I am continuing to partner with the police chiefs of Coolidge, Eloy and Florence to complete testing mobile data systems that will allow peace officers in each community to communicate with each other. Once testing is complete, this program will enable our law enforcement agency to communicate better with other law enforcement agencies in Pinal County and across the State in a crisis situation. Once completed, this will be the first of its kind in Arizona and the United States.

The Sheriff’s Office is better now than it was two years ago. And I restate my promise to you that I will continue moving the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office into the forefront of law enforcement. I will continue to ensure my agency listens to its citizens’ concerns facing them where they live and work. I will continue to ensure accountability of all PCSO employees to deliver the best service possible to you, the citizens of Pinal County.

Visit www.vasquez4sheriff.com to learn more about my reelection as your sheriff.

Submitted photo