The recent deaths of Tempe’s Butwin family, found shot to death west of Casa Grande, is a tragedy.
Within hours of the discovery of the five bodies in their burned out car, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu had many believing there’d been a mass murder perpetrated by Mexican drug cartels.
An anonymous U.S. Border agent reportedly told the media the dead bodies were linked to the Los Zetas cartel. The sheriff’s office said it had reports of five people who were headed to Pinal County to conduct illegal activities and were now missing. These claims fueled a media firestorm even though all the facts weren’t in. It was like old times for Babeu. He was back in the limelight. The former media darling fell from grace earlier this year after it was reported he was involved romantically with an alleged illegal alien, was posting semi-nude pictures of himself on a “hook-up” website and after state and federal investigations opened after allegations of abuse of power and campaign law violations were made against him.
Babeu’s troubles didn’t end there. In May, the sheriff became the focus of a newspaper report questioning his procurement of $7 million dollars worth of federal surplus property and how he planned to use and dispose of it, possibly in violation of federal law.
Babeu’s image rose to prominence after the highly spun April 2010 purported gun battle between Pinal County deputy sheriff Louie Puroll and machine gun toting drug smugglers. Since then we’ve watched the self-promoting Babeu preach about the dangers of western Pinal County, known as the Vekol Valley and how he’s the man to save us from the cartels.
After Puroll, Babeu claimed he was “green lighted” for assassination by the cartels. He spoke about the coming gun battles between his deputies and cartels that would play out in the Vekol Valley. At a Babeu-hosted news conference covered by CNN, Puroll described the dreaded Vekol Valley area as more dangerous than Afghanistan.
Babeu was everywhere talking about drugs and illegal aliens. His tough talk allowed him to hitch his wagon to prominent politicians thus gaining instant political credibility even though he was a rookie first term sheriff with only a couple years of actual police experience as a patrolman in an upscale urban suburb.
He even cozied up to veteran Arizona sheriffs and gained needed law enforcement credibility.
Babeu’s power soon extended into the Arizona State Legislature that threw money at him while they gutted the budget of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Babeu was shaping statewide law enforcement policy in a way that benefited him and left many law enforcement agencies statewide struggling. The sheriff with the charm of a snake oil salesman had the legislature eating out of his hand.
Soon Babeu was running for Congress. He was on the political fast track. Some thought he was unstoppable.
Then his public indiscretions killed his chances for Washington and he decided to trump his loyal chief deputy’s planned run for sheriff and announced his intentions to keep his job.
The Butwin case put the focus back on Babeu. But this time the focus magnified the sheriff’s opportunism even when it involved the tragic loss of a family of five that had nothing to do with drug smuggling.
For the last couple of years we’ve been entertained by a steady stream of Babeu authored novellas that were great fiction and nothing more. Babeu hasn’t been assassinated, the Vekol Valley gun battles never happened and “hero” Puroll was fired for lying.
The Butwin family tragedy was Babeu’s latest yarn that didn’t end or happen like we were led to believe. A Sunday East Tribune poll had 83 percent of respondents saying Babeu put his foot in his mouth on this one.
We can thank Tempe police for telling us the truth.
One can only wonder: If it weren’t for Tempe detectives telling us what really happened to the Butwin family, would the truth not have been known until it was politically convenient for the troubled sheriff who is hoping for re-election?
Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net.
Rational Human posted at 8:00 am on Sun, Jun 17, 2012.
A ridiculous story about nothing at all. A mistake. Bill Richardson never made a mistake in his entire adult life? Making a mountain out of a molehill is about as ridiculous as it gets. Just fodder for the anti-conservative sheriff haters to feed on.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:31 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
FOLKS...THE LIES THAT THE .......ANTI-SHERIFF PAUL BABEU....PEOPLE SPEW WOULD BE HILARIOUS IF THEY WERE SO SAD AND SICK....SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY....PSYCHOTIC.
THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE DEA AND THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TABACCO AND FIREARMS ARE REFERED TO AS.........D.I.R.E.C.T.O.R.S.
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE PRESS, ON TELEVISION AND IN MAGAZINES.............IF YOU DON'T BELEIVE ME...THEN JUST TYPE IN....."DEA DIRECTOR MICHELE LEONHART........AND BINGO.....ARTICLE AFTER ARTICLE REFERS TO HER AS .........DIRECTOR LEONHART.
AS FOR THE SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA ...."SELLING"...THEIR ..."SHERIFF OF THE YEAR AWARD"....I WOULD LIKE SOME OF THE ABOVE COMMENTORS TO GO TO THEIR NEXT CONVENTION AND STAND UP AND TELL THEM THAT THEIR AWARD GOES TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.............I HOPE THIS COMMENTOR HAS A GOOD DENTAL PLAN BECAUSE HE-SHE IS GOING TO NEED IT.
NEXT, I GUESS THAT THE ABOVE .........."VENDETTA-ISTAS (I AM USING THE "SPANISH FEMININE FORM FOR OBVIOUS REASONS......[wink]).......ARE GOING TO SAY THAT SHERIFF PAUL BABEU ......"BOUGHT" HIS ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD PROMOTIONS........(ALL THE WAY FROM ENLISTED RANK, PVT E-2...ALL THE WAY TO...STAFF GRADE OFFICER RANK, MAJOR O-3)....AGAIN.....I HOPE ONE OF THE ABOVE COMMENTORS WOULD GO TO THE NEXT.......ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD BANQUET AND STAND UP AND TELL THE ASSEMBLED OFFICERS, NCO'S AND ENLISTED MEN THAT.......ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD "PROMOTIONS" ARE SOLELY BASED ON WHO IS THE HIGHEST BIDDER ....AGAIN, I HOPE THAT THE COMMENTOR WHO MAKES THIS ASSERTION HAVE A GREAT DENTAL PLAN.
LASTLY, FOR THE ABOVE COMMENTORS WHO CLAIM THAT SHERIFF PAUL BABEU ...."BOUGHT"....HIS #1-CLASS RANKING AT THE ARIZONA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY....THE NEXT TIME SHERIFF PAUL BABEU'S CLASS HAS A REUNION....I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE OF THE ABOVE COMMENTORS STAND UP AND TELL THE ASSEMBLED ATTENDEES THAT THEIR ....CLASS RANKINGS ARE FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.......(DITTO ON THE COMMENTOR HAVING A GOOD DENTAL PLAN....HE-SHE WILL BE NEEDING IT A THIRD TIME FOR FULL REPLACEMENT OF HIS UPPER AND LOWER DENTURES).
HAS SHERIFF PAUL BABEU MADE MISTAKES....D@MN STRAIGHT HE HAS..GREAT BIG, HUGE ONES BUT YOU CAN'T FAULT HIM ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HONORS OR THE JOB HE IS DOING IN DRUG AND ILLEGAL ALIEN SUPPRESSION ENFORCEMENT (THE LEADERS AND TOWNSPEOPLE OF ARIZONA CITY HAD A BANQUET IN HIS HONOR AT THE IRON SKILLET RESTAURANT....ARE THE ABOVE COMMENTORS GOING TO STAND UP IN THE RESTAURANT AND CALL THEM LIARS AND FOOLS.....(DITTO ON THE DENTAL PLAN)...............LOL...........[wink]
IceCat posted at 7:17 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
#1 -Leon, in case you're wondering the "Best Sheriff" from the NSA is basically something you buy. Babeu or someone from his staff had to nominate him.
#2 - No such thing as Director of the US Border Patrol.
#3- There is no such thing as Director of the DEA.
If you're going to make stuff up, and least look up information up first.
exit526 posted at 6:36 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Leon, you missed a couple of the recent columns by Bill where he discussing great work done by Tempe PD.
While your favorite, Babeu, was babbling B.S. about the Vekol Valley tragedy, Tempe PD was at work solving the crime. Where were the Babeu border boys when it all happened? What? They don't work weekends? The pilot doesn't either? How unfair and insensitive of the cartels to keep doing business on weekends and holidays.
The only thing getting ridden to death over and over again is the Pinal County taxpayers. Babeu has cost, is costing and will be costing (long after he is gone) the county taxpayers for his misdeeds, his mismanagement and his flawed spending. Add to that the lawsuits that have been filed.
The good news, Leon, is that he will long be remembered for the Babeu legacy of deceit, corruption, overspending and his addiction to being anywhere and everywhere in the nation (news and media events) instead of taking care of business here at home.
Historically, it's not just Bill. It's a lot on inquiring people. Your man Babeu, a lifetime member of NRA, was dropped by NRA (after they helped build him) when discussing 2nd ammendment issues. In December NRA News began going to Paul Gosar for any comments and observations. Paul was no longer significant. Glad you signed up for the lifetime, Paul? This NRA drop was two months before Jose came up for air and Paul made his private life public.
Engaged Voter posted at 5:36 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Yes, let's do as the above commenter said, and let Sheriff Babeu do his job.
Hey Leon - any clue when he is going to start?
Leon Ceniceros posted at 3:28 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
THE .........VENDETTA....CONTINUES.
IF IT'S NOT THE TEMPE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE DPS LEADERSHIP THEN IT'S SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO.
HAVEN'T THESE HORSES ALL BEEN RIDDEN TO DEATH OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN ????
SHERIFF PAUL BABEU HAS BEEN PRAISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE US BORDER PATROL....BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEA...BY HIS FELLOW SHERIFFS ALL ACROSS AMERICA WHEN HE WAS CHOSEN BY HIS PEERS AS THE .............."BEST SHERIFF IN AMERICA".
ONLY THE PHOENIX NEWD TIMES AND THIS COLUMIST HAVE A "THING" FOR PINAL COUNTY SHERIFF PAUL BABEU. JUST LET HIM DO HIS JOB IN STOPPING AS MANY ILLEGAL ALIENS AND MEXICAN DRUG SMUGGLERS FROM COMING INTO OUR STATE.
Cerulean posted at 7:11 am on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Yes, Bill Richardson, I remember it well. In the middle of a legislative session when thousands of jobs were being cut from education and people losing their Medicaid coverage, the House Republican’s passed a bill that would have given $5 million to Babeu’s campaign/appropriation fund.
In March 2011 Kirk Adams, Arizona’s House speaker said the money was for “border security operations”. (Pinal County is not on the border.) To be fair, Kirk Adams was just the guy that pushed the bill through to the Senate. The House Appropriations Committee (that bastion of fiscal conservatism), chaired by R-John Kavanagh and R-Steve Court were the fools who actually wrote the bill.
I understand that during that time Babeu bought a helicopter that today sits idle in a hanger because Pinal County does not have the resources to use it for “border security”.
And our legislators keep asking us to pay them more.
Good column Bill Richardson. [smile]
KJDaVinci777 posted at 10:35 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
chatmundo007(promotion)...I never said anything about the empty suit in the WH...I was talking of the FOX MENTOR aka Cartel Expert(in his on corrupt mind) BUT SINCE YOU KIND OF ASKED...HERE ARE SOME FACTS-1) PEOPLE THAT CALL you or me RACIST FOR STATING THAT hussien Obama is incompetent are stupid. Obama is the RACIST in any equation. 2) I did not vote for him - because the person was a crackcocaine-pot head user in his college plus years... AND his best mentors - J. Wright = anti American and his best friend in Chicago continues to be a unconvicted terroist named Bill AYERS. As for the (I like Mexicans) gay sheriff...for the most part I do not care what his sexual preference continues to be...BUT IF HE IS GIVING PREFERENTIAL treatment TO MEXICANS THAT SERVICE HIM OR RECIEVES SEVICES FROM THEM - THAN HIS IS A CORRUPT Gay Sheriff that should be removed from office...FACT: the guy is not corrupt because he is super gay - he is corrupt due to all his lying - coverups and soon to be exposed "stealing and selling Military hardware....(DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF PINAL COUNTY EQUIPMENT FROM THE MILITARY ENDS UP OR IS ALREADY IN THE HANDS OF THE CARTELS) I rember Bill wrote a colunm on the new sheriff in town...even Bill was fooled by this AC-DC so-called Arpioa wannabe...Note to HILLSTREET---GOOD PEOPLE IN THAT OFFICE DO NOT SWALLOW HARD... I believe Sheriff P. Babesue is one of a few that swallows hard, if that is what you meant...Arizona deserves better...Common sense should prevail over stupid
chatmandu002 posted at 9:12 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
Wait, if people against president Obama's policies are called racists. Then why aren't people against sheriff Babeu called homophobic? Is it because one is a liberal and one is a conservative.
Rational Human posted at 7:38 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
And the Sheriff Paul Babeu haters came out again to make a very rounded off point about nothing other than they hate Sheriff Paul Babeu. Well done boys.
IceCat posted at 6:11 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
If the background investigators for Chandler PD actually did their job when Babeu applied to that department, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Dale Whiting posted at 5:24 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
Remember back when Maricopa County elected a bicycle shop owner as its Sheriff? How are things any different [better] today? Let's try electing a long time serving deputy sheriff to the post of sheriff, you know, one of those like the man who ran against Sheriff Joe in his first re-election campaign.
hillstreet posted at 4:43 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
Babeu can't help himself; an arrogant, narcissistic personality with certain pathological tendencies is completely unable to separate his inner ego demands with what is best for the agency and the public. He will do anything to get re-elected and using these deaths was nothing, to lie to the public is just what it takes, in his mind. Look at his career all the way back to that boarding school and you'll see the pattern.
Unfortunately, good people in that agency have to swallow hard every day and remain quiet to his behavior and abuse of his office. Pinal Co. voters sc--wed the pooch on this one; hopefully they now recognize it and will not vote for him again.
Police work, by real cops not "babeus" clearly established who the victims were and what truly happened. You were a cop Bill, answer me this. How is it possible for Babeu's detectives not to find and run the VIN via MVD computer (as you know, the VIN is in several places in vehicles) that Saturday afternoon, not to contact TPD that same afternoon, and for TPD not to find the crime scene inside the Butwin's home by that evening? Did PCSO withhold that VIN until Tuesday? We will never know....
Good column, Bill.
exit526 posted at 4:21 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
1) Babeu just couldn't let it go with an "I don't know" that Saturday morning.
2) Babeu and Henry continued to support the anonymous caller who claimed his brother-in-law and four friends went the night before to Vekol Valley in an SUV to do illegal things. That's what the sheriff and his chief kept saying.
That's pretty specific. Not just missing, but missing in Vekol Valley and doing illegal things. Let's hear the tapes for the several calls the homicide investigators claim to have had with this anonymous caller, referred to in several PCSO press releases.
And let us know, did his bro-in-law ever come home? The five have been missing on their crime venture for almost two weeks. He must really be worried ... unless it was another propped up story by the Babeu staff to bolster his claims.
So Babeu had TEN missing persons that weekend, five of which were the Tempe family. Where are the other FIVE that were out doing wrong in Vekol Valley? Or were they never missing.
Let's hear those tapes of the (perhaps non-existent) conversations your bogus crime claims were based on, Babeu. Yes, seemingly trivial thing, but so are most of the law enforcement claims he has made in his short career.