Former State Representative Cheryl Chase: Training and accountability needed at PCSO

Dear Editor,

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office was hurt by news that at least six drunken-driving cases were dismissed in the Apache Junction Justice Court because the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office failed to keep records that verified the validity of blood-alcohol readings. Just last week, Judge Dennis Lusk dismissed another three cases in his court. This will become a weekly occurrence until all 14 months of DUI convictions have been overturned. What about the victims of DUI wrecks and their right to justice? Civil lawsuits have been jeopardized, which may trigger lawsuits against Pinal County for failure to perform the basic functions of collecting and safeguarding evidence.

The cases ranged from more minor offenses of driving while impaired to operating a vehicle above the legal .08 blood-alcohol limit to extreme DUI’s (1.5 BAC or higher, DUI with minor or multiple convictions) which resulting in car accidents.

Paul Babeu has a plan to fix this problem and to keep our roads safe. Paul will immediately end the use of breath tests and require blood draws of DUI suspects. Blood evidence is tangible evidence and is more accurate than the breath test. Breath test evidence is only captured while it is analyzed and printed to a paper and then it is gone. Blood can be preserved for years if necessary while waiting for a court date. In addition, the suspect now has a piece of evidence that his defense attorney can have independently tested.

Paul will also provide annual training and require all deputies to be certified in First Aid & CPR, which our deputies currently lack. As an industrial nurse, I have trained first responders and EMTs. The American Heart Association (AHA) requires recertification every two years. It is not enough to provide training only at the Police Academy and then never require recertification or any refresher training. We live in rural Pinal County, where we expect and deserve our deputies to have First Aid & CPR certification. Paul personally was re-certified in February 2008 and has been awarded two life saving medals as a police officer. Paul knows that when we call 911, we expect the responding deputy to help save the life of a family member, friend or injured motorist.

We need to keep our deputies safe. I have met several deputies who have outdated bulletproof vests. This is not acceptable to ask men and women to keep us safe and then give them a 20-year-old vest to keep them safe. Where are the priorities when an additional media person is hired by the Sheriff during an election, yet he doesn’t have the money to outfit our deputies for their job? We need a new leader who will put the safety of our deputies above selfish re-election goals.

Paul’s experience in government, as a decorated police officer and military commander is sorely needed to bring the discipline, focus on training and the accountability that Pinal County needs.

Sincerely,
Cheryl Chase

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