Maricopa police chief ‘detained’

If the headline got your attention, then the city’s efforts to make residents notice its Shop Local campaign certainly did the trick.

During Maricopa’s first official council meeting at the new City Hall Tuesday, Police Chief Steve Stahl was “detained” by two clowns from the Maricopa Police Department. Clowns, that is, not in the derogatory sense, but actual clowns. 

Sgt. Pepper and GooBurr came into the council chambers at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting to detain Stahl. His crime? The humorously dressed duo showed council members and meeting attendees video of Stahl purchasing items at a Casa Grande Target – a big no no for a city that encourages residents to keep money local. 

Police spokesman Ricky Alvarado told InMaricopa.com Thursday the actual identities of the two officers are Sgt. Stephen Judd and Sgt. Hal Koozer. 

As part of the Maricopa’s push to make residents shop locally and keep tax dollars within the city, residents are being asked to help bail Stahl out of “jail” by making purchases at local businesses. His bail has been set at $100,000 in local purchase receipts. 

Residents can upload their receipts on the city’s website here. They also have the option of dropping off their receipts at Ace Hardware, Bashas’, City Hall, Fry’s or Walmart. 

The “Free Chief Stahl” campaign ends Nov. 19. There is a chance residents will get to see Stahl behind bars at the end of the campaign. 
Tuesday’s little show during the council meeting was planned and scripted. The video evidence of Stahl at the Casa Grande Target was also planned. Alvarado said the police chief was aware he was being filmed. 

For more on the Shop Local campaign read InMaricopa News' November edition, out next week.