I want to thank David Gonzales, the U. S. Marshal for Arizona, for once again leading the effort to identify, locate and arrest wanted felons who have fled from justice. During the week of April 16, Gonzales and his deputies — with the cooperation of local police, the sheriff, state police and probation officers — led efforts to arrest more than 200 wanted felons.
The number of wanted felons in Maricopa County has dropped from more than 40,000 to approximately 30,000 over the last few years due in large part to the Gonzales’ leadership and energy.
Getting law enforcement agencies in Arizona to work together, even on common issues that impact the safety of everyone, has been described as being easier than herding cats. Gonzales, who was appointed U. S. Marshal by President George W. Bush in 2002, was reappointed in 2008 by President Barack Obama. That in itself exemplifies his unique ability to get get things done across party lines and to bring everyone to the table and to get them to work together and towards solving common problems. Gonzales has demonstrated over and over during his 35-plus year career in Arizona law enforcement that things can get done when people work together. Hats off to Gonzales, the U.S. Marshals Service and the local, county and state police who took 200 wanted felons off of our streets last month.
Another thank you is for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who threw his full support behind Gonzales’ efforts.
The sheriff also deserves credit for publicly admitting the serious threat presented by the Mexican mafia prison gang that is attempting to take control of the Maricopa County jail.
People can argue back and forth all day long about why we have this Mexican mafia problem in the jail system and on the streets. But the fact is this homegrown group works in partnership with the Mexican drug cartels and the tens of thousands of street gang members that commit a large number of serious crimes in Arizona.
Arpaio is the first local law enforcement agency head I can remember who has revealed to the public just how dangerous the Mexican mafia can be. It’s obvious they aren’t afraid of Arpaio and his deputies. That means they’re surely not afraid of the law. While the sheriff has made many mistakes, telling the truth about this threat is one of the things he’s done very right.
Lastly, thanks to the Arizona Attorney General’s office for supporting SB 1433, which would allow the state to go after rogue police departments. The effort came after it was discovered the police department in Colorado City was corrupt and breaking Arizona laws.
An amendment to the bill would have begun the process for the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to study the need to certify police agencies in Arizona. Currently, cities can pretty much have any kind of department they want — from one that meets the highest ethical and professional standards to one where police chief can be the political puppet of the mayor.
Unfortunately, SB 1433 was killed by two legislators from Mohave County — home to Colorado City. One can only wonder why state-elected officials would want to block good law enforcement in Arizona. I salute the attorney general’s office for its effort and the 25 house members who supported SB 1433.
Good law enforcement is essential for Arizona’s progress and sustainability. Hopefully those who support SB 1433 will get another chance to insure the existence of quality police agencies, making our streets that much safer.
Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net.
hillstreet posted at 4:25 pm on Tue, May 15, 2012.
Having served in AZ policing for almost 30 years I can tell you in my neck of the woods we work together and the cooperation among cities, the county, and the feds is at the highest level I have ever experienced. 99% (there's always one glory hound) of the agency heads I work with are only concerned with results and not who gets the credit.
I know you speak of your experience and what you see. Well, I speak from my experience and what I see. Allowing the legislature to decide what is a good or not good police department is political monkeying with law enforcement. Do you really believe the nut jobs at the legislature will not try to run local PDs given the chance? if you do, I have a bridge in Lake Havsu for sale.
As you well know, the American policing model, unlike our friends overseas, is based on de-centralized law enforcement under local control.
If you are asking me who do I trust, the Washington Street circus aka the AZ Legislature, or my local city council, there's no contest. This bill was NOT about good law enforcement, it was about yet another blatant attempt by the 90 ethical dwarfs to usurp local control. Enough!
Rich posted at 8:04 pm on Fri, May 4, 2012.
"Go Sheriff Joe and Marshall Gonzales, enforce all the laws all the time."
Wish they did. What Bill said is that about 30,000 are getting a free pass. Of course you won't if you don't buy an approved car seat for your child, grandchild etc. Unless, of course, the policeman who stops you is part of a rogue department, and you contribute to the take. Basically, he admitted cops are not to be trusted. Personally, I'm not a fan of that.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:36 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Bill, very good article. thanks.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:36 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Go Sheriff Joe and Marshall Gonzales, enforce all the laws all the time.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:48 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Wow....did someone have an...."EPIPHANY".....or what ???
No "VENDETTA REMARKS" about Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
Praise (albeit some "back-handed" compliments) for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe "Tent City" Arpaio.
Let's hope that there isn't a ......."RELAPSE".....in the future....[wink][wink]
KJDaVinci777 posted at 10:48 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
Bill, while I agree with your kudos for Gonzalez, it sounds like Joe Arpaio finally did something right by allowing "some" deputies to assist Gonzalez. I guess its only appropriate to recognize "nickel corrupt bag Joe" for something in his final year in office. My point is simple--one law enforcement success does not make up for all the waste, fraud and criminal activity that he has sponsored while in office. He came into office with a "federal" retirement and he will leave office a multi millionaire...He learned well while he was in Mexico(before he was kicked out). Pablo Escobar gave a lot of money to the needy in Colombia--but he was still a drug lord. NY Drug lord gave a lot of free turkeys while he controlled the heroin trade in NY(American Gangster)--but he went directly to jail. The man is and has always being evil...According to high level DEA sources - he also did a good con job on the federal govt. He better hope hope Holder gets indicted first for his Arpiao type lying...(plus you forgot to mention his sucess in arresting broken tail light violators INSTEAD of real criminals... [wink]
Rich posted at 9:19 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
Sure Bill, but how does the average person tell the difference? Colorado City, Quartzite, Mesa, Tempe, uniforms, badges and attitudes while about 30,000 criminals they know about wander around. As I said 'good law enforcement' we don't have any of it.
billrichardson posted at 7:49 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
Some is not all. What I wrote about is some.
Rich posted at 7:20 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
"The number of wanted felons in Maricopa County has dropped from more than 40,000 to approximately 30,000 over the last few years due in large part to the Gonzales’ leadership and energy."
This is a good thing? Over a few years?
"During the week of April 16, Gonzales and his deputies — with the cooperation of local police, the sheriff, state police and probation officers — led efforts to arrest more than 200 wanted felons."
Again this is a good thing, out of 30,000?
"the Mexican mafia?" "rogue police departments?"
Your message just appears to be 'be afraid, be very afraid.'
"Good law enforcement is essential for Arizona’s progress and sustainability."
Apparently, at least according to your article, we're fresh out of that.
Dale Whiting posted at 3:37 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
Thank you Bill for this well researched, informative and well reasoned piece. Corruption is a problem everywhere. SB1433 would appear to be a means to address corruption in the police departments. Let's demand our legislature address this problem.