Trust is the most important value a leader of any organization can possess. This is especially true when that leader happens to be the head of a law enforcement agency.
The current Pinal County Sheriff, Paul Babeu, has repeatedly made sophomoric and flippant remarks and has made decisions that discredit his ability to lead the sheriff’s department. Instead of waiting for the necessary information to come in regarding the horrific scene in the Vekol Valley area, Babeu chose to grandstand on evidence yet to be obtained.
He denounced (Homeland Security) Secretary Napolitano and cast blame on the drug cartels, claiming they were involved in this unfortunate event. He again tried to show our citizens he is a tough sheriff.
However, there is a tremendous difference between being a tough sheriff and being a competent sheriff, and Paul Babeu has shown he is no longer competent.
The Mexican drug cartels are active in Pinal County and no one will dispute that. But not everything that happens is related to the cartels.
![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")
