A notice of claim -- a precursor to a lawsuit -- usually is filled with enough details to establish the basis for a lawsuit, and probably would reveal details about this fresh rift between Karns and Babeu, seemingly one-time allies. Former President Donald Trump, bottom right, also spoke at the event. Records show Babeu spent more than $53,000 to send 25 people to a weeklong conference in St. Louis at which he . Two of Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's siblings believe their brother is unfit to be a U.S. Lavigne. Republican Mark Lamb succeeded Babeu as sheriff.[34][35]. Ultimately, many residents of Pinal County, which voted 58 percent for Trump in 2020, align politically with Lamb. In this case, he's both.". | AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. After filing for bankruptcy in 2003, Lamb decided to start again in Arizona, he writes in his book, where he moved with his five kids and his wife, Janel who today has her own book, The Sheriffs Wife, and often appears with her husband at public events. (Asked about the report, Mack said CSPOA denounce[s] all racism and violence.), Mack said Lamb is not an official CSPOA member, but he clearly sees Lamb as one of his own. independent local journalism in Phoenix. When I asked Vale whether Lamb made a salary from the American Sheriff Network, he said Lamb was a partner of a Virginia LLC that produces the content but declined to give any other details. After the relationship ended, Orozco claims that Babeu threatened Orozco with deportation to guarantee his silence. Shutterstock. Time on the screen says 5:02 p.m. . By 2016, he had moved to Pinal County and decided to seek the sheriffs job, running as a Republican and, in his words, a constitutional conservative; he made a point of opposing abortion rights in his campaign, but he ran without the same cowboy image he has today. We'll be in touch if we look into your question. County officials have confirmed they are cooperating with federal investigators. He said the county has implemented a new system of checks and balances that require multiple levels of approval, explanations of how recipients intend to use moneyand receipts documenting expenses. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. Gaffney points to Karns' past support of Babeu, including a letter he wrote recommending Babeu for the National Sheriff of the Year Award, and an e-mail commending Babeu for his leadership and stance on arming school administrators in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. The former U.S. serviceman turned law enforcement officer, who by all accounts has lived an exemplary life, has a blaringly obvious blindside. 6:00AM. Those who are classified as "at-will" employees do not. . The following February, Jose Orozco, who was an undocumented immigrant, claimed that Babeu and Orozco had been lovers since meeting in 2006 on an online dating site. The council reduced the pay hike and Babeu, running as an independent, turned his effort into a successful campaign and was elected to City Council at the age of 18. [26] Babeu stepped down as co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in Arizona, but received the continued support of U.S. [10] Babeu stated that he had never been the target of an investigation or lawsuit and "was recognized for helping restore financial stability of the school. Phoenix's independent source of Another $63,772 distributed from the foundation went to public service announcements for both offices. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Devin Burghart, who runs the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, which analyzes far-right social movements, says understanding sheriffs like Lamb is important in the long-term fight for democracy. Researcher Cloee Cooper said Lambs highly politicized approach to his job is ultimately undermining a safe and just society. Asked about how supporters might interpret his anti-government messaging, Lamb told me, Im a very pro-freedom person. (There is not, according to multiple courts; an audit in Arizona also reaffirmed Bidens victory there.) He also holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a summa cum laude master of public administration from American International College. The audit also found that $151,645 of the community outreachmonies awarded to the foundation went to unauthorized uses benefiting the County Attorney or Sheriff's Office programs. The federal grand jury also asked for documents involving funds that were provided to the Arizona Public Safety Foundation, a non-profit agency that received hundreds of thousands of dollars in Pinal County RICO funds. He opposes all limitations on the Second Amendment. Since taking office in 2017, Lamb has become the face of a new online streaming service called the American Sheriff Network and of a nonprofit coalition of sheriffs called Protect America Now; he also founded a charity, the American Sheriff Foundation. Contact. A staunch conservative, Republican Babeu has made his stance on illegal immigration known to the nation as he fights for stricter laws. Babeu's and Voyles use of RICO funds has been questioned for years in lawsuits and investigations. Once elected, Lamb promised he would focus on building relationships within the county. Pinal County Sheriff's Office Captain Jeffrey Karns, who retired today, lambasted Sheriff Paul Babeu in an e-mail he sent not only to Babeu, but to all PCSO staff. The subpoena comes on the heels of an FBI probe of Babeu and former Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles and whether they inappropriately used profits from seized property for personal and professional expenses. A three-member committee made up of a detention officer, a sheriff's sergeant and a civilian review all requests for RICO funds. Forfeiture money paid for Voyles' personal security system, retirement contributions of employees in his office and fundraising for the Sheriff's Office, according to the lawsuit. See also: Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation Paul Babeu was the tenth of eleven children born into the family. I asked Sean Kennedy, a professor at Loyola Law School who is on the oversight commission for the Los Angeles County sheriff, about Lambs involvement with Protect America Now and other outside activities, and he said he believes Lambs behavior violates the NSAs code. Of 43 groups that did provide one, documentation was incomplete, the audit found. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. But in a solidly conservative part of Arizona, Lamb so far has had plenty of leeway for more and more activities outside the county. . "We never found proof of criminal activity," he said. The audit said those expenditures effectively bypassed the county's purchasing procedures, which require various levels of approval. [13] He was the first Republican sheriff elected in the history of the county (founded in 1875). Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu who became the face of Arizona border security nationally after he started stridently opposing illegal immigration threatened his Mexican ex-lover with deportation when the man refused to promise never to disclose their years-long relationship, the former boyfriend and his lawyer tell New Times. [27], Babeu dropped his congressional bid on May 11, 2012; instead he sought re-election as sheriff. Court records show that problems at the school arose years before Babeu took over as headmaster. (Many job-safety rankings consider being a roofer more dangerous than being a police officer.). | Doug Barrett for POLITICO. Of the total amount awarded to the foundation over the three years, $230,000 was initiated by Babeu or one of his employees, the audit found. Vale declined to say anything else about the company or provide any details about funding, revenue or viewership. Phoenix's independent source of The sheriff at the time, Paul Babeu, had faced a series of scandals, including an affair with a man who alleged Babeu had threatened to deport him if he exposed their relationship. The school closed in 2004, following the death of its founder Michael DeSisto. and you didn't care.". Last month, the Goldwater Institute, a conservative Arizona watchdog group, echoed concerns over Pinal Countys RICO spending and requested files from the Sheriff and County Attorney. Local activist Roberto Reveles, who through the ACLU of Arizona has organized against racial profiling and other anti-immigrant policies in the state, has known Lamb since his earliest days as sheriff. Now in his second term, Shaun Babeu will be up for re-election in 2018. The man's allegations were first published Friday in the Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly magazine. In a February interview with ABC15, Goldwater attorney Jared Blanchard said they decided to look at Pinal County after questions were raised about funds being used to promote Babeu in a way that could benefit his congressional campaign. This 6-month-long detailed search led to the termination of Arpaio's top two deputies. [24], A spokesman for Babeu denied the allegations and described them as "sensationalist". Super Fans, Mascot Mania, and All-Stars: Suns and Nuggets Get Ready to Rumble, Katie Hobbs Gets Singed After Unwrapping Tamale-tastrophe, Fight Night: How Phoenix Became a Hotbed for Mixed Martial Arts Champions, New Attainable Not Necessarily Affordable Housing Coming to Downtown Phoenix, I Love the Rivalry: Fans Soak Up U.S.-Mexico Soccer Showdown in the Valley. Orozco: "Dont threat me. FLORENCE, Ariz. The first thing to know about Mark Lamb, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, is that he just plain looks like a sheriff. They said he accused them of criminal conduct. KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges Babeu has been a national leader on the need to secure our border and stop illegal immigration and drug and human trafficking. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's campaign launched a counterattack late Monday on a key source for a story broadcast Sunday by a Phoenix TV station. "[10] Babeu was not named in any allegation during the investigation by the state. Babeau said he intended to balance the department's budget by auctioning the equipment. Descended from a long line of Mormons and still an unabashed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he grew up all over the world, he is fond of saying, including the Philippines, Panama and Argentina, where he did his Mormon mission. | He says DeRose demanded the passwords to Babeu's websites and social-media accounts. During his tenure he served a tour in Iraq and spent 17 months deployed in Arizona as a commander with Operation Jump Start (Southwest Border Mission). 2023 www.azcentral.com. DeRose said gossip about Babeu would focus attention on Orozco, attention that could result in his deportation, Orozco says. "At a minimum, it seems that by funneling money to a private group which buys things for him and his department Babeu is able to avoid procurement laws and other transparency regulations which usually apply to government purchasing," the lawsuit stated. ", DeRose wrote: "If you are serious about an amicable resolution to this, it is critical that no further offensive actions against my client be taken in the meantime. Senate. local news and culture, Monica Alonzo Voyles said any suggestion that he and Babeu did something unethical or illegal is unfounded.. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. He said requests did not appear to be made for specific dollar amounts and no system appeared to be in place to review where the money went. The lawsuit claimed the county agencies were misusing RICO funds and funneling money through the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. Lamb, center, speaks at a Turning Point Action gathering in Phoenix this past July. February 2, 2017 See also: Babeu Turns Distortion of Truth Into an Art Form Jessica Pishko is a writer and a lawyer who is working on a book about sheriffs. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff.[2]. Arizona's forfeiture laws direct proceeds into the coffers of the prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies involved in seizing the items. Auditors said sheriff's employees traditionally were involved in the foundation's business, including serving on boards and handling accounting functions. Im already hurt me . Join the New Times community and help support The message: Sheriffs are here to protect your freedom including freedom from your own democratically elected government. Super Fans, Mascot Mania, and All-Stars: Suns and Nuggets Get Ready to Rumble, Fight Night: How Phoenix Became a Hotbed for Mixed Martial Arts Champions, New Attainable Not Necessarily Affordable Housing Coming to Downtown Phoenix, Katie Hobbs Gets Singed After Unwrapping Tamale-tastrophe, I Love the Rivalry: Fans Soak Up U.S.-Mexico Soccer Showdown in the Valley. But on Nov. 12, he appeared on One American News Network and said the enthusiasm he saw for Trump in Arizona does not compute with the election results. BABEU: Clearly theres a disconnect with the federal government enforcing the law, doing their job and what were doing on the ground. Im just speaking . A man with tattoos and well-groomed blond facial hair wearing a Proud American T-shirt (a design sold by the right-wing shock jocks the Hodgetwins) ran across the parking lot for a photo with the sheriff. Can we start calling you senator? the man asked. Visit his site and learn more today! The FBI declined comment Wednesday. But Orozco suspected Babeu was lying. And I will serve the people where I can.. Paul Raymond Babeu (pronounced BAB-you; [1] born February 3, 1969) is an American law enforcement officer, politician and member of the Republican Party who was sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, from January 1, 2009, to January 1, 2017. Orozco claimed his statements are documented in copies of email and SMS correspondence between Orozco and Babeu. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuitby attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union. Cochise County uses RICO funds for scholarships, Governor signs bill to tighten rules on asset seizures by law enforcement. Senator Jon Kyl draft their "10-Point Border Security Plan". They seemed unsurprised to see their sheriff talking to a reporter and flashing his TV-ready smile. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. They just happen to support President Trump a lot. When I asked about the roughly 140 law enforcement officers who had been injured or killed while on duty at the Capitol doing a job Lamb also professes to cherish he demurred, saying he hadnt been there and couldnt say what was or wasnt true. He started his service as a private and rose through the ranks to major in the Arizona Army National Guard. For example, Lamb, an ardent defender of the Second Amendment, has spoken in support of the formation of private militias well within the Constitution, he told a group of supporters in March and emphasized the power of sheriffs in Arizona, an open-carry state, to call local civilians into service to suppress all affrays, insurrections and riots that comes to the attention of the sheriff. Last year, as Black Lives Matter protests swept across the country, he formed a local civilian posse to assist his office with law enforcement, even though there were no such protests in Pinal County. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. The audit found that for 39 of 82 awards reviewed, the county could not provide an application or written proposal from the organization that received the money. He said his own review of RICO funds indicated past requests were made in round numbers and did not require itemization. Sheriff Paul Babeu, President of the Arizona Sheriff's Association and the National Sheriff of the Year, is Arizona's youngest Sheriff and leads the third largest Sheriff's Office in the state with 700 full-time employees. | Babeu and Voyles this month demanded an apology from Volkmer, Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuit, Babeu spent more than $53,000 to send 25 people to a weeklong conference in St. Louis, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu denied claims he tried to threaten the man, a Mexican immigrant and a former campaign volunteer, with deportation if their past relationship was made public. He says he once wrote a comment on Chino Valley eNews (on which Babeu had an account), where gay men arrange sexual liaisons. [25] Babeu came out as gay on February 18, 2012, saying that his sexual orientation was the only factual statement from the allegations. | This should go without saying.". Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. RICO refers to the anti-racketeering laws that give authorities wide latitudeto seize assets in criminal cases even if charges are not filed and then fund operations with the proceeds. On Jan. 6, the day rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington, Lamb appeared at a rally in Phoenix to protest the presidential election results. He graduated from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy as the #1 overall police recruit and was voted by his fellow officers as the class exemplary officer. For questions about programming, membership or anything else about KJZZ, please visit kjzz.org/contact. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix He says lawyer Chris DeRose demanded he sign an agreement that he would never breathe a word about the affair. Lamb says the network takes its inspiration from Live PD, an A&E show that ran from 2016 until 2020, when it was canceled after deputies in Williamson County, Texas, were caught on camera tasing a man named Javier Ambler, and ultimately killing him. See also: Babeu Sticks It to Taxpayers and a Volunteer Rescue Team. Kennedy pointed to the provision about private gain, as well as one requiring equal protection of all citizens, without allowing personal opinion, party affiliations, or consideration of the status of others to alter or lessen this standard of treatment., Asked to respond, Vale said Lamb keeps a strict division between his work as the Pinal County sheriff and his image as the American Sheriff. Vale added, All of his activities, both as sheriff and in his private time, are vetted through the [Pinal] County attorney. The attorney, Kent Volkmer, told me Lamb has consulted with him, including on Protect America Now and the American Sheriff Network, but said he does not review every single appearance Lamb makes outside his capacity as sheriff. Informed of the situation, Nancy-Jo Merritt, a longtime Phoenix immigration attorney, says a threat of deportation would be indicative of an "atmosphere that's been created politically in this state, so that if you get angry at someone who is Hispanic, you immediately jump down to the level of threatening to deport him. From 2006 to 2007, Babeu spent 17 months as commander of Task Force Yuma supervising 700 soldiers, where they supported the United States Border Patrol to achieve operational control and reduce illegal immigration. [16] Babeu led the third largest sheriff's office in Arizona with 700 full-time employees. Babeu isa Republican who made border security a top issue in his two losing attempts to win a seat in Congress. Babeu is vice president of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association[15] and was named the National Sheriff of the Year in 2011 by the National Sheriffs' Association. The county also enjoys relatively low levels of crime. has expressed sympathy for the Jan. 6 rioters, spoke at a recent anti-vaccine rally in Phoenix, along with an estimated 138 currently serving sheriffs, unabashed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, defeated Babeus anointed successor in the primary, promised he would focus on building relationships within the county, has appeared with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, 650 employees and a $39 million annual budget, with a stated mission of educating Americans, The Arizona Republic investigated his charity, The state ethics committee investigated Lamb, A local newspaper also accused him of having an affair, a design sold by the right-wing shock jocks the Hodgetwins. Babeu retired in September 2010 after 20 years of service. Since taking office, Lamb also has appeared with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, an anti-immigration organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center considers a hate group. ", Orozco responded: "Good threats. Today its closer to 100, and a faint whisp of cloud floats in the sky, daring itself to cover the blazing sun. That morning I came home, and I told my wife I was gonna be a cop, he concluded. Arizona police seized $200 million in personal property, but where did the money go? The Pinal County Sheriff's Office website, which still lists Karns as leader of the Sheriff's Office Patrol Division, says of the captain: Although the board hasn't considered the matter, Karns' e-mail states that a member of Babeu's "executive staff relayed the message" to him that once he became an at-will employee, he would face termination. "He wanted his legal rights protected. Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. 2023 www.azcentral.com. There was the waitress who told Lamb he needed to gain weight. The spokesman confirmed that Babeu would continue to run for U.S. Lamb, too, is a client; his PR representative, Vale, is employed by Sprouls strategy group. Orozco shared text messages between him and Babeu with New Times. [11][12], Babeu joined the Massachusetts National Guard as a 21-year-old. Lamb has appeared multiple times with Trump at the White House and other political events. He sarcastically thanks Babeu for "notifying me that you were involuntarily forcing an 'at-will' position on mepunitively reducing my pay by approximately $15,000 [and] handing me as good a 'Constructive Termination' cause of action as I have ever seen.". [3][4], Babeu holds an associate degree in law enforcement from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy. PCSO mouthpiece Tim Gaffney, in a statement posted online by the Arizona Daily Star, dismissed Karns e-mail by citing that no decision yet has been made by the Board of Supervisors, that this was merely an "organizational change to improve operations.". Babeu and Voyles this month demanded an apology from Volkmer, saying he unfairly maligned them and subjected them to disparaging statements over the use of RICO funds. If approved, the change effectively would strip those affected PCSO employees, primarily PCSO lieutenants, of their ability to appeal to a review board any decision Babeu made to discipline or terminate them. Were going to find out who is willing to die for freedom. He also makes direct appeals to citizens, an effort that looks more dangerous after former President Donald Trump riled up supporters on Jan. 6. The decision by the AG's Office doesn't mean Babeu and Voyles have been cleared of wrongdoing. There have been reports Babeu's fundraising efforts took a hit in the wake of the controversy surrounding his announcement earlier this year that he is gay. Weve come to the range because shooting is Lambs favorite pastime. While some Pinal County residents say Lambs involvement in politics and entertainment has gone too far, the county voted overwhelmingly to reelect him last year. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Agents also approached the County Attorney's Office about financial records kept by Voyles, who oversaw and approved expenditures of the funds. The vast rural district, which includes Flagstaff, suburbs of Tucson and the Navajo Reservation, is one of the largest in the country. Babeu first mentioned the alleged crimes on Saturday, when he held a press conference to discuss Jose's allegations. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu just won a primary for a competitive congressional seat in Arizona. Sheriff Paul Babeu is the Sheriff of Pinal County in Arizona. He clearly has politicized law enforcement, and that covers a lot of territory, Reveles says, calling Lamb a self-centered, extremist, anti-immigrant individual. Some Pinal County residents have called for an audit of the sheriff offices finances. Stephen is a former staff writer and columnist at, Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix Building off his social media popularity he has more than 300,000 Facebook followers, high for a sheriff and his desire to elevate law enforcement, this past May he announced the launch of the American Sheriff Network, which for $4.99 month allows viewers to watch 10- to 20-minute segments showing sheriffs and their deputies as they respond to calls for service a mix of sheriff propaganda and reality television.