Good and honest law enforcement is the cornerstone of a nation of laws. Unfortunately Arizona has serious problems in that regard when it comes to its elected and appointed law enforcement leadership.
This week’s announcement that ex-Maricopa County Attorney Andy Thomas was disbarred for ethical breaches was another sad chapter in the failings of Arizona law enforcement’s leadership. He is also reportedly under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Thomas hasn’t been the only Arizona law enforcement officer to attract attention from authorities.
Three weeks ago, it was reported Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, Arizona’s top law enforcement officer, was under investigation by the FBI for possible illegal fundraising activities during the 2010 election. This isn’t Horne’s first brush with the law. In 1973, Horne was banned for life from being “associated with any broker, dealer, investment adviser or registered investment company” by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission for violating anti-fraud provisions of federal securities laws, and filing false financial reports.
On top of Thomas and Horne, it’s no secret the FBI has been looking into the activities of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his former Chief Deputy Dave Hendershott for possible civil rights violations.
Arpaio’s tough-on-crime protege Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is under investigation for allegations stemming from an admitted love affair gone bad with a man suspected of being an illegal alien. Babeu is also reportedly being looked at by the feds for using taxpayer resources in his congressional campaign. Steve Henry, Babeu’s chief deputy and candidate for Pinal sheriff, is also reportedly under investigation over campaign issues.
Questionable law enforcement leadership conduct isn’t limited only to elected officers.
In 2005, it was reported by the Arizona Republic that Glendale Police Chief Andrew Kirkland resigned following his “inappropriate” relationship with a subordinate female officer.
In 2009, KPHO CBS 5 News reported current Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff admitted it was his voice on an audio tape telling a subordinate officer to lie to his sergeant in order to get out of work so the officer and Ryff could “step out on their wives.”
During the 2010 Arizona Senate confirmation hearing of Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Bobby Halliday, it was revealed Halliday was involved in a disturbance that was reported to police. Halliday was also quizzed about his coziness with the trucking industry, an industry regulated by DPS. After Halliday’s confirmation, DPS altered its policy and prohibited officers from making “administrative stops” on trucks, which do not require probable cause but are done to check drivers’ log books and look for safety violations. Later, Assistant Director Jack Hegarty, Halliday’s head of the highway patrol, was linked to a trucking industry lobbyist. Hegarty took an early retirement following a complaint involving possible ethical violations.
And in 2011, it was reported by the Republic that Quartzite police chief Jeff Gilbert was under investigation for abuse of power for targeting political enemies of the town council, and Goodyear police chief Mark Brown retired suddenly after questions regarding his involvement in a “cover-up” of police misconduct during a death investigation.
These are just a few examples of recent law enforcement leadership misdeeds in Arizona.
Law enforcement leaders are supposed to set an exemplary example for subordinates and the community. Those officials with character flaws are easy prey for anyone looking to corrupt our system. Law enforcement is only as good and honest as those who lead the protectors of the public.
Arizona has no minimum standards to be a police chief. Sheriffs need only be registered voters. Prosecutors must be lawyers. In some cases, police chiefs don’t even have to pass a polygraph test like a new officer would. Elected officials are exempt from polygraphs.
Arizona has some great chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors. But some aren’t what Arizona needs.
It’s time to change how chief law enforcement officers are selected.
If law enforcement fails, so does Arizona’s future.
Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net.
Rich posted at 11:36 am on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
"Law Enforcement" is a bad joke all around. No matter how tightly controlled it requires power and power corrupts. Let alone that the laws themselves are contradictory, poorly thought out and cover such things as our pets, the seats in our cars and what we can post on the 'net. All that's being 'enforced' is selective anarchy and anyone who can get away with that is pretty much allowed to. Arpaio can chase your gardener, and disregard your daughter's rape. Babeu gets to make 'exceptions' in immigration for his boy friend. The kicker is all the rest just haven't been caught yet.
chatmandu002 posted at 12:01 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
Bill,
Let me guess, the good law enforcement folks are the democrats and the bad law enforcement people are republicans. OK, I understand where you are coming from.
Slabside posted at 12:24 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
From, "Richardson: Arizona lacking in good, honest law enforcement leaders Friday, April 20, 2012
-Arizona has no minimum standards to be a police chief. Sheriffs need only be registered voters.
-It’s time to change how chief law enforcement officers are selected.
From, "Richardson: Arizona needs higher standards for its sheriffs Friday, February 24, 2012
-Yet in Arizona the only requirement to be one of the state’s most powerful Constitutional officers with vast responsibilities that impact the safety of county residents is that one be a legal voter and reside in the county where they want to be sheriff.
-Whether it’s time to impose certification, training, experience, performance and accountability standards on sheriffs like those imposed on the heads of other law enforcement agencies, or if it’s time to appoint sheriffs like police chiefs, it’s time for change.Whether it’s time to impose certification, training, experience, performance and accountability standards on sheriffs like those imposed on the heads of other law enforcement agencies, or if it’s time to appoint sheriffs like police chiefs, it’s time for change.
Bill, get some new material ok?
Dale Whiting posted at 12:27 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
chatmandu002,
Did I miss something in Bill's piece? I did not see the words "democrat" or "republican" mentioned once. So if Bill mentioned examples of only republican elected officials who got themselves in trouble, he did not make a point of that. Are you making that point for us?
Rich,
Remember when our Maricopa County Sheriff owned a bicycle shop? He made no pretenses of being an experienced law enforcement officer. Wasn't it better then?
wrtrblk posted at 12:51 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
No sh*t sherlock. Just look at the hundreds of thousands of law breaking illegal aliens polluting our state. Sucking welfare out of honest hard working legal people, driving down home prices, just to name a few. Send them back to mexico. It's the law, deport them asap.
NHeathbar posted at 1:38 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
Hi Bill,
I agree that the system is lacking, not only in this state but this country. From what I'm getting from this article and reading between the lines that it's strictly a "Republican" issue. Being an honest person with integrity come from your moral and civil standards. It draws no lines between parties. Let's take our Commander in Chief who has trampled on our Freedom of Speech with signing HR347 last month. Let's also take into consideration all Executive Orders he has signed bypassing Congressional approval. One of the latest also signed in March basically declaring Martial Law in this country. Now, here is our top law officer in this country and you have nothing to say about the attrocities he has enacted since he's been in office. I think these issues are more dire to the welfare of this country as a whole.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 1:41 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
Here we go again with the .........."ANTI-REPUBLICAN, ANTI-SB1070" ....V.E.N.D.E.T.T.A.
This must be "Guest Column #42" demonizing any...any Arizona Republican Law Enforcement Leader or Political Leader who helped SB 1070 become Arizona Law and the ban of the ...."PRO-ILLEGAL ALIEN AMNESTY"....people.
Does the "guest columnist" ever, ever....mention anything negative about the Phoenix or Mesa Police Departments........the answer is a .....BIG FAT NO.
Does the "guest columnis" ever...ever...mention...Pima County Sheriff "Dumbnik"...who told the National Television Programs the he would never ...."enforce SB 1070" in his County (Tucson).
When the good readers of the East Valley Tribune see the byline with the columnists name they skip over it because it is nothing but a re-hashing of the same, old, worn-out, tired....anti-SB 1070 rhetoric that they have read dozens if not hundreds of times before...in the Army we had a saying......"S.O.S., different Day".
That expression fits the columnists rantings...........to a ...."T".......[wink]
STR8SHOOTR posted at 1:47 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
How about this. We recognize that the position of Sheriff is too important to be considered Republican and/or Democrat. Just have people run for election in a non partisan election.
az2008 posted at 2:25 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
You guys with kneejerk left vs right, D vs R responses are part of the problem. Both sides are corrupt. Each side retains its power with the help of people who reflexively oppose the other side who's seen as worse (depending on whatever topics are important to you).
Gang sarge posted at 3:19 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
Bill, You must be on Crack!
Just look a little West of the Arizona border (or South of the border) to see real Law Enforcement corruption. Just to mention one, look into the subject; Google up the case of Richard Fine in Los Angeles County. In that case, which happened last year, it was exposed that all the superior Court judges in LA were receiving illegal money from the County of Los Angeles (1/3 of their pay) for many, many, years. No wonder no one ever won a case when suing the County of Los Angeles. Whole city governments (like Bell) have been found and tried for corruption. And just about everyone in the California state government is so crooked and controlled by drug, illegal immigration, and anti-American political fringe groups it is ridiculous. That is why I left California for Arizona!
The only reason the Maricopa County Law Enforcement champions are being persecuted by the “Fast and Furious” federal government of Obama is because the County Sheriff and others have endeavored to uphold the law and the will of the citizens of Arizona and the U.S. and enforce the immigration laws! The Big Brother federal government with Obama at its helm, (who himself as a “political organizer “who arose from a corrupt political system controlled by Chicago’s Daily machine) is the epitome of hypocrisy.
There is currently an unprecedented wave of arrests and indictments in the federal government on corruption, and there should be many more. And you defenders of the open border tolerance have caused the unintended consequences from the lack of border control to have allowed the billions of dollars of bribe money generated by the drug and human smugglers to corrupt our law enforcement system.
KJDaVinci777 posted at 5:07 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
Bill, between, Shatman,Leon and gangasarge,no wonder lawenforcement has corrupt officials in Arizona. These are 3 reasons incompetents like Babesue and Joe Arcorrupto are able to steal Arizona blind. These guys or gals are clueless as to your points. But help is on the way...Indictments on Paula and Joe are on the way and a new Chief from Dallas is on the way. Phx. Chief of Police Danny Garcia. Word from DPD is that Garcia has integrity and Paul and Joe better don't mess with a Texan. He sure aint from Boston or Holders outfit. Keep up the good work Bill, sooner or later those critics will stop smoking funny cigarettes and understand the truth...some.thing they cannot handle.
samkat posted at 5:25 pm on Fri, Apr 20, 2012.
Time will tell about Garcia.
KJDaVinci777 posted at 12:18 pm on Sat, Apr 21, 2012.
Whoever selected Garcia did their homework...word from Dallas is that Ben Click promoted Garcia when he was D-Chief...Thats all I need to know. The corruptos will not have a friend in Garcia. .Samkat how much time do you need re: Garcia? 20+ years with a clean record is not enough?...Joe and Paula had uncovicted problems before stupid voted them in... and stupid still votes for them...
k33j88 posted at 6:40 pm on Sun, Apr 22, 2012.
Jesus once said, and I quote: "Let those without sin cast the first stone". Bill, do you REALLY expect me to believe that you were on your best behavior during your employment. We, sir, are all human and as such, fall from grace from time to time. Some mistakes are more egregious than others, it's how you deal with them that may become an issue. You must've been good at covering your tracks. Please stop with the "holier-than-thou" rhetoric----my stomach is turning. Do you ever repent for your sins?
KJDaVinci777 posted at 9:24 pm on Sun, Apr 22, 2012.
BornAgaink33j88-In this country you have the freedom to believe anything you desire...If you cannot handle the truth, like Arpaio, BABEsue, Thomas, HOLDER, Pearce, and the rest of the KKK ers...do not read his columns. Bill is talking of corrupt OFFICIALS that are unconvicted felons...or soon to be convicted felons. He is not talking about being late for work or taking a govt. pencil home. People like you keep electing felons...Jesus does not like that...Did you know that?
hillstreet posted at 9:58 am on Tue, Apr 24, 2012.
Another column full of half-truths and complete misinformation. You complain about law enforcement leaders then fill half the column w/ prosecutors. For the last time, lawyers are NOT law enforcement officers. I carry a gun and a badge and risk my life every day, I AM a law enforcement officer. Thomas, Horne, et al are POLITICIANS.
Electing clowns (Maricopa and Pinal) as sheriffs is the fault of the electorate, not any governmental agency. The AZ Constitution governs that. A county can go to charter government and appoint sheriffs, all it takes is the will of the people. BTW, sheriffs do not have to be AZPOST certified. If each county went to charter government, and required sheriffs to be certified, guys like Babeu and Arpaio would lose their certification pronto.
Every municipality I am aware off has a tough selection process for chief of police. All AZ chiefs must be AZPOST certified, which means out-of-state candidates may receive a waiver on some aspects of the process, but NOT the polygraph.
NO ONE IN AZ CAN BECOME A CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER W/O A POLYGRAPH (UNLESS THEY ARE OLD TIMERS AND BECAME COPS BEFORE THE RULE).
Do we have bad chiefs? Heck yes. And it is up to the community to demand their replacement. Do we have a "lack of good law enforcement leaders?" Bunk. You are insulting all the good ones (the majority) by this statement.
billrichardson posted at 12:26 pm on Tue, Apr 24, 2012.
New background investigations and polygraphs aren't required for officers who are promoted from within an agency. Only outsiders are retired to have a new polygraph and background investigation. Out of staters have to qualify for AZPOST certification. In the case of the Tempe chief who told an officer to lie to a sergeant, he was the only applicant and person interviewed for the job. His interview panel involved two educators, a Hispanic community activist, a Phoenix fire fighter and a soon to be retired Phoenix officer. Not a police executive amongst the group. Compare that to the national search done by Phoenix and Mesa for their two most recent chiefs. There are no standards to be a chief of police in Arizona. Sure there are some good ones, but there are also a good share of slugs, careerists and those who couldn't qualify to be an entry level officer if forced to take a polygraph and undergo a full blown high security background check. Thanks of reading my column. You never did get back to me about your city's gang problem.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 6:57 pm on Wed, Apr 25, 2012.
How many....."VENDETTA'S" ...can one person have....now it's the Chief of Police of Tempe.
Let's see how he does his job before....the ....."denigration and demonization games" ...begin.
Look at the Police Chief of Phoenix Scandal last yearl...and the Police Chief of Mesa Scandal of 3 years ago (Jorge Gascon's Washington DC trip paid for "lock, stock and barrel" by Hispanic Illegal Alien Amnesty Activists).
As the Good Book says...."let those without sin cast the first stone".
hillstreet posted at 10:02 am on Mon, May 14, 2012.
Everyone had to pass a poly to be a cop here, Bill. Now you want every officer who applies for chief to take another? That is ridiculous, when does it stop? And your concern about Ryff isn't about a poly, it's about city management promoting him knowing da-n well what he had been up to. No background process or poly is worth the paper is printed on if the powers that be will ignore it.
Tempe has the chief it deserves, because that is who the manager and council want. That is not a failure of process, it is a failure of government.
And our gang problems are the same as anyone else around us.