New sheriff needed for results

What is your expectation for the Sheriff’s Office in the fastest growing county in America? Do you expect professionalism, quality training, required protective equipment for deputies and technology such as computers to improve service?

The current sheriff continues to justify that certification of deputies for first aid and CPR is not important, since they receive initial training at the Police Academy. I disagree, since I know how many times the American Heart Association has changed and improved their training methods, and their certification is only valid for two years. Do you want a deputy who has been out of the Police Academy for 10 years responding to your loved one with a heart attack or who is in a car wreck?

I’m a Patrol Officer, which is the backbone of any police agency and who is the first responder to your emergencies. Proudly, I serve as a well-trained first responder, graduating first in my class and voted Exemplary Officer by my peers. I have been awarded two life-saving medals. I’m no hero; I was only doing what I was trained and certified to do – protect and save lives. You expect me and all law enforcement officers to have this certification. Our Pinal deputies do not. This is unacceptable, and I will require this certification of all sworn officers when I’m sheriff.

Modern police agencies have computers in every patrol vehicle in order to view maps and write reports in highly visible locations, such as your neighborhood. My opponent believes deputies should return to the substation and write their reports. This is highly inefficient, causing further delays in emergency response times and is the reason that over 5,000 reports have not been completed.

Several deputies are currently wearing ballistic vests that are 20 years old, when the warranty is only guaranteed for five years in normal heat environments. How did the Sheriff have money to hire another media staffer in an election year and yet have no money to protect our deputies?

Just last month, DUI records for arrests over the past 14 months have been “lost or stolen” or perhaps they were never performed. I personally spoke with the judge who dismissed the most recent extreme DUIs, and he said the tests were never performed and a deputy testified “I didn’t know I had to do them.” Judges say many more dismissals will follow, and appeals will further clog our already overwhelmed courts. Most DUI cases are pled out and never see court and now those “guilty pleas” will smartly appeal, based on no evidence and will be overturned. More importantly, DUI victims and their families will be denied justice, pending civil suits are now in jeopardy and DUI suspects get off scot-free. Where is the supervision that should have checked on these records and ensured records were maintained and required tests performed on equipment?

I’m also a trained government manager, with a Masters in Public Administration with concentration in management and budgeting. I was elected as a local city councilmember and four years as a County Commissioner in my home state of Massachusetts. I have prioritized competing budget interests and always spent within our means. I have numerous awards for my financial abilities and expertise in planning. I have far more budgeting experience than my opponent, and I know how to budget for large capital projects and equipment needs. The same way your family is not likely to pay for a new house in cash, you don’t pay for a large capital purchase of $2.3 million for computers in one year. You spread the expense over a period of time, in this case–the life of the equipment (5-8 years).

I’m an Army Major, proudly serving our nation for 19 years. I served a tour in Iraq and commanded over 1,000 active duty soldiers to secure our Arizona/Mexican border. I have responded to natural disasters, been project manager for construction projects for roads and bridges, and, most importantly, I have had the great honor to lead some of our finest Americans. Army officers do not tolerate poor performance or excuses of why an assigned task is left undone or failed. Americans rightly expect results and accountability.

My formal training, education, budget and management experience makes me a well rounded leader and best able to lead us in the future. Given the opportunity to lead the Sheriff’s Office, I will make it the best in Arizona. I will benchmark future success with faster emergency response times and increased patrol presence. In addition to the many good deputies and detention officers, I will actively recruit and hire the best and build the most disciplined and professional agency that Pinal County citizens deserve. I will lead by setting a good example of high integrity, demand excellence in my work and place the needs of those I serve above my own.

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