Dear editor:
I’ve proudly served our Pinal County Sheriff’s Office for 22 years as a dDeputy, SWAT member, K-9 handler, patrol sergeant and the foremost accident investigator. I’m a lifelong Democrat and ran for Sheriff myself, ultimately supporting Sheriff Vanderpool.
Chris Vasquez is no Roger Vanderpool. Morale of the Sheriff’s Office is lower than I have ever seen it, and our reputation has been badly damaged by the countless mistakes of Chris Vasquez. Recently, evidence and records of DUI cases for the past 14 months have been lost or stolen, which is resulting in countless DUI dismissals. The deputy is responsible for the records, yet where was the Sergeant and other supervisors to ensure evidence was collected and records were properly maintained and inspected? To go on for one month or two might be excusable, but for over 14 months? This failure shows the public that PCSO has a hard time doing the basics of evidence collection and record keeping. I’m now a sergeant with another agency, and it pains me to see how quickly professionalism has gone south in the past three years, at a time when our population explodes.
Paul Babeu is an actual working police officer – who arrests criminals, responds to emergencies and saves lives. He spoke to the city of Maricopa Police and Fire Associations, and we have unanimously endorsed and actively support Paul. We joined the AZ Highway Patrol Officers, 6,500 members of Arizona Police Association, 5,000 members of AZ Fraternal Order of Police, 3,000 US Border Patrol Agents in AZ and the fire fighters of Apache Junction, Florence and Gila River.
Why do nearly all 15,000 police and fire fighters in Arizona support Paul Babeu? We trust and believe in him. Paul will get the job done. We ask that you give us a leader who will lead! I invite my fellow Democrats to join with me to elect a new leader, who will restore training, discipline, proper record keeping and evidence collection to the Sheriff’s Office.
Willie Payne
520-251-1920 (cell)
File photo
![City Manager Ben Bitter speaks during a Chamber of Commerce event at Global Water Resources on April 11, 2024. Bitter discussed the current state of economic development in Maricopa, as well as hinting at lowering property tax rates again. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/spencer-041124-ben-bitter-chamber-property-taxes-web-218x150.jpg "City gave new manager big low-interest home loan")
