Criminals pay for improved law enforcement service

March 6, 2010


Grand opening of Pinal County Sheriff's substation Pinal_County, Ariz. – While some valley Police agencies are laying off Cops and cutting back on service - one Arizona Sheriff’s Office has improved response times to emergencies, offered additional staff training and purchased millions in new radios, ballistic vests, computers and even a $320,000 DUI enforcement van.

Sheriff Paul Babeu is well known for helping the statewide fight to end Photo Radar enforcement in Arizona, yet his leadership team has quietly implemented internal operational reforms that have resulted in improved law enforcement for Pinal County families.

Emergency response times have improved by 2.5 minutes, nearly every patrol car has a new computer and GPS monitoring to allow for field report writing and efficient dispatching. A DUI Task was created with local Police Departments and in less than one year achieved top tier ranking of 3rd place out of all 16 DUI task forces in Arizona.

This weekend, Sheriff Paul will cut the ribbon for a brand new 2,900 sq. ft. substation in the fast growing unincorporated area San Tan Valley – where the population is believed to top 85,000 residents. The price tag is $150,000.00 dollars and the Sheriff is making criminals pay for it. The cost to renovate the facility, new furniture, equipment and lease cost is covered by the proceeds of seized criminal assets (RICO funds) from local drug dealers and smugglers.

The Sheriff says this is just the beginning. Four months ago, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force joined with the DEA and the Attorney General’s Office to take down an entire Drug Trade Organization (DTO) in Casa Grande and Arizona City. Thirty three suspects were either arrested or felony warrants issued. Nearly 40 cars, $500,000.00 in cash, numerous bank accounts, custom homes and 3,500 lbs in marijuana were seized.

If the Sheriff and Attorney General’s Office prove that these assets were the byproduct of criminal racketeering – the nearly $30,000,000.00 in assessed proceeds get forfeited to the Sheriff and participating agencies.


San Tan Valley Substation Budget reductions combined with an increase in crime and population growth usually results in reduced service. But not in Pinal County. A new grant administrator has yielded federal and state grants totaling $7,000,000.00, which couldn’t have come at a better time. The majority of citizens live in unincorporated areas of Pinal County, which has only 1 Deputy per 1,000 residents – less than 50% the normal police staffing in Arizona. The population continues to grow at the fastest rate of any Arizona county and boasts the 2nd fastest growth in all of America.

Sheriff Paul Babeu said, “We are winning the fight in Pinal County. Crime does not pay, yet we’re making criminals pay for our expanded law enforcement protection. Human and drug smugglers who come into Pinal County shall be arrested and we shall take their cash, drugs, vehicles and houses. They will pay for their crimes and we’ll use their assets to expand service to better protect our Pinal families.”

Sheriff Babeu serves as President of the Arizona Sheriff’s Association. He has 20 yrs service in the military and currently holds the rank of Major in the Arizona Army National Guard. He has served a combat tour in Iraq and commanded Task Force Yuma to secure the Arizona/Mexican border.


Pinal County Sheriff's substation