Sheriff candidate visits Mexican border

Being proactive is the most effective means of keeping the citizens for whom he is responsible safe. That is what 30 years of law enforcement experience has taught Florence Police Chief Bob Ingulli.

Ingulli, who announced his candidacy for Pinal County Sheriff last month (www.BobIngulli4Sheriff.com), is passionate about reducing crime and keeping the communities he serves safe. Earlier this month Ingulli visited the Mexican border and spent substantial time with the Minutemen citizen’s group. “This is an issue that affects the safety and the well-being of Pinal County,” said Ingulli, “and I needed to see the impact firsthand.”

Minutemen founder Chris Simcox (left), Bob Ingulli and Stacey O’Connell, director of the Arizona Minutemen.

It didn’t take Ingulli long before the impact of illegal immigration was apparent. “Before we even arrived at the border, as we were driving down Highway 79, we witnessed the Border Patrol arresting a group of 20 illegal immigrants,” noted Ingulli. “The reality is Pinal County is a gateway to the United States, and they are coming right on up the middle, tearing up the desert, trashing the property of our ranchers and destroying the beauty of our environment.”

Chief Bob Ingulli checking out the trash and litter on the “illegal highway” near the border. (Photos courtesy of Brodie Broderson)

Unfortunately, the impact of illegal immigration doesn’t stop with defacing property. “These groups crossing our borders are not just made up of people looking for work,” continued Ingulli. “There are coyotes, drug-runners and those engaged in human trafficking. They are cooking meth in Mexico and bringing it here. Illegal immigration contributes to drug abuse, prostitution and homeland security risks.”

“But there is hope,” says Ingulli. “We need to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to the safety of the citizens of Pinal County. We cannot adopt a ‘wait and see’ attitude when we’re talking about the well-being of people…. If we rally our resources, we can all contribute to the solution of the problem.”

Ingulli’s broad range of experience began in the nation’s largest police force, the NYPD; he retired as Lieutenant/Operations Commander. After moving to Arizona, Ingulli still felt the passion to protect and to serve. He then joined the Tucson Police Department while later moving up to Police Chief of Kearny, Arizona. He is currently serving as Chief of the Florence Police Department.

In addition to his extensive law enforcement experience, Ingulli holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management of Human Resources and a Masters of Education in Counseling and Human Relations. Ingulli has also been trained at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, the Southern Police Institute, the Southwest Law Enforcement Executive Command College and the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy. He is a certified instructor for the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board.