Criticizing the federal government is not uncommon, particularly in Arizona and during election season. But are the feds as useless in the war on crime as Sheriff Babeu intimates?
Hardly.
Babeu forgets to mention that since he took office, the federal government has given him $2,964,164 in grant money to enhance law enforcement in Pinal County and keep crime dropping like it has for several years.
Babeu also forgets to mention the federal government pays him approximately $230,000 a month to house federal prisoners in a county jail that would otherwise sit partially empty and cost Pinal County taxpayers financially and no telling how many jobs that are filled by local residents.
In other words, Babeu forgets he has an “Uncle Sugar” who pumps millions into his department while he’s biting the hand that feeds him.
While there are problems on the U.S.-Mexico border, the dozens of sheriffs, police chiefs and command personnel I’ve spoken to have nothing but high praise for the efforts provided by federal law enforcement agencies.
Unfortunately, in order to grab headlines, Babeu, has worked tirelessly to create an image that the feds are all sitting on the beach drinking cold beer while he’s single-handedly fighting crime.
Following the tragic murder-suicide of a Tempe family whose bodies were found south of Maricopa, Babeu used the incident to attack Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
The feds aren’t perfect, and neither are sheriffs. But working together has shown it works better than one side attacking the other in order to get publicity.
In the end could Babeu’s anti-fed complex hurt Pinal County residents?
