Eloy PD captain named interim PCSO SWAT commander

As part of Pinal County Sheriff’s Office’s extensive reorganization, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu announced Wednesday that he will be restructuring the PCSO special weapons and tactics team immediately to ensure higher standards for training, discipline and performance are met and maintained.

“PCSO’s reputation within the law enforcement community has been damaged,” Sheriff Babeu stated. “More importantly, the perishable trust we hold with the public has also been harmed. Accountability needs to be restored.”

As a major part of the SWAT reorganization, on Jan. 8 Sheriff Babeu will remove the current SWAT commander from the team and bring in Eloy Police Department’s Captain Shane Blakeman to serve as interim SWAT commander. Captain Blakeman, a 26-year law enforcement veteran who served 20 years as a member of the PCSO joint agency SWAT Team and is currently commander of Eloy PD’s Support Services Division, will serve in the part-time, unpaid position for about four months.

“I am honored to accept the position of interim SWAT commander under Sheriff Babeu and will bring my experience and expertise to help build an exemplary team to serve the citizens of Pinal County,” Captain Blakeman said.

Captain Blakeman will work closely with a SWAT Oversight Committee, established by Sheriff Babeu, to assess training, policies, procedures, organizational structure and functionality as a fully qualified SWAT team. The SWAT Oversight Committee will be chaired by PCSO Chief Deputy Steve Henry and comprised of six additional members from Pinal County law enforcement and elected officials.

“This committee will establish standards and a process for testing potential SWAT members, as well as establish operational guidelines and recommend a permanent SWAT commander for my approval,” Sheriff Babeu explained.

Current members of the PCSO SWAT team will remain but will be required to retest in order to remain on the team once the reorganization is finalized.

Submitted photo