Pinal County Sheriff’s Office

Paul Babeu
Sheriff

February 17, 2011

Mayors’ Garino, Escamilla and Gomez,

September 11, 2001 was the largest terrorist attack on American soil in our history. The
9-1-1 Commission preached we need to have “transparency in government” so our
citizens can make educated decisions for themselves regarding their personal safety.

I have been in law enforcement for nearly twenty-years and currently serve as the Public
Information Officer for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. It is my job to put out News
Releases to inform the public on what is happening in Pinal County. Your letter to
Sheriff Babeu dated February 9th, 2011 is critical of the information we have released
publically and it even questioned its accuracy.

The U.S. Border Patrol and others have said, although Pinal County is not on the border,
our problems are magnified because the cartels who come through the three border
counties, which are not secured, are funneled through Pinal County. Statistics show
during the past four years we have seen dramatic increases in totals tied to drug and
human trafficking. In fact, our vehicle pursuits and drug seizures are higher than any of
the four border counties.

Below are some of the photos from cases our folks have investigated during this past year
that we have reported on openly. If you speak to your law enforcement agencies in your
area, you will find they have a far different view point then you have expressed in your
letter and are very supportive of our efforts.

Regarding the effect on visitors, have you seen the “Normandy Style Barriers” our
citizens are greeted with 70 miles north of the border? Below are photos in case you
have not seen them. How come if we care so much about border security, these barriers
are 70 miles north of the border and not on the border?

971 Jason Lopez Circle Building C * P.O. Box 867 * Florence, AZ 85232
Main (520) 866-6800 * Fax (520) 866-5195 * TDD (520) 868-6810
Tonight when you go to bed and have “sweet dreams of tourism dancing through your
head” please say a prayer for the men and women of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
who are involved nightly with vehicle and foot pursuits involving cartel members
responsible for drug and human trafficking.

Regards,

Tim Gaffney,
Public Information Office
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office

971 Jason Lopez Circle Building C * P.O. Box 867 * Florence, AZ 85232
Main (520) 866-6800 * Fax (520) 866-5195 * TDD (520) 868-6810