On Monday, Arizona State House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, announced the state Legislature was launching a probe of the federal gun smuggling operation known as "Fast and Furious."
Fast and Furious was a flawed operation to track firearms from gun dealers in the United States to drug traffickers in Mexico. It was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix and U.S. Department of Justice.
Tobin told the media, "Let's be serious folks, crimes happened here. We have a law enforcement agent, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who was killed here. It's responsible for the Legislature to start having some hearings so we can do some fact finding and see where it's all going to come out."
Tobin isn't the only Arizona elected official beating the Fast and Furious drum.
In October, Pinal County Sheriff, and now candidate for U.S. Congress, Paul Babeu, who was surrounded by nine county sheriffs, blasted the feds for Fast and Furious from the steps of the Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial at the state capitol. A demand was made for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's resignation.
While Tobin and Babeu, both National Rifle Association groupies, lead a local anti-Fast and Furious cheering section, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Congressman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., are already ripping Holder and have no intention of letting anyone from the Justice Department getting away with the failed program's outcomes.
I'm sure that these two Washington heavyweights are quite capable of getting to the bottom of what happened and holding those accountable who failed us.
While Grassley and Issa do their jobs, it would be nice if Tobin and Babeu did theirs and focused on state and local crime and the public safety outcomes they can actually influence.
Yes, a Washington-bashing dog and pony show plays well for the media and helps raise campaign funds, but where's the concern for the ongoing failures within Arizona's law enforcement system? What about some serious talk regarding fixing what's broken at home when it comes to crime and illegal guns.
Guns are the weapon of choice when it comes to cop killing in Arizona.
According to the June 8, 2010 study conducted by now retired Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, 20 Arizona police officers have been murdered since 1993. Since that study was completed, four more officers have been added to that list.
The Romley report also said that since 1994 over 40 percent of Arizona cop killers were classified as prohibited possessors. And since 2003 that number jumped to over 60 percent.
A prohibited possessor is someone who is legally unable to possess a firearm.
Three of four most recently murdered Arizona officers were shot by prohibited possessors.
And on Wednesday night, Mesa police were involved in a gun battle with a prohibited possessor that left an officer wounded.
Tobin and Babeu should be asking questions and demanding answers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and state Attorney General about how prohibited possessors keep getting the guns they're using to shoot Arizona police officers, where the guns are coming from and what can be done to stop it.
And when they're done asking about guns in the hands of cop killers, they need to ask about the $1.8 million dollars the Legislature swept from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board that has virtually stopped essential training for officers that's necessary for them to survive in a state where they're being murdered at a record rate. There's no excuse for an undertrained police officer. Officers need to be able to protect themselves in order to protect us.
Tobin and Babeu need to remember what Congresswoman Gabby Giffords said: "Do what's best for Arizona." And quit worrying about Washington and their next election and start worrying about the safety of Arizona's citizens and its police officers.
Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:44 am on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
No Bill,
It makes no political sense to focus on local gun control and training issues. This is an election year. During elections we have to focus on Washington, D.C. not the west end of the Capital mall in Pheonix! We have to complain about those moats in the eyes of others while ignoring the beams in our own eyes.
So put your wisdom on hold for about another 9 months, then come out swinging after November 6th!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 12:49 pm on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
Here we go again with the ..."SHERIFF BABEU VENDETTA"......[sad]
The letter writer forgot to mention that the Attorney General for the United States, Eric Holder..............LIED TO CONGRESS ABOUT WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT "FAST AND FURIOS"...AND WHEN HE KNEW IT.
Mention was made about the "essential training necessary for officers that's necessary for them to survive in a state where they are being murdered at a record rate".
I thought that was what the Police Academies and the Sheriff's Acadamies were supposed to be doing. Training police officers and sheriff deputies to learn not only how to protect the public but protect themselves and their fellow law enforcement officers. Are you saying that the "survival training" courses in these Academies are deficient or badly taught. Maybe instead of a "vendetta" against Sheriff Paul Babeu...the columnist should be going after the Law Enforcement Academies of Arizona for churning out...ill-prepared graduates ????
billrichardson posted at 1:51 pm on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
Leon,
Thanks for taking the time to read my column. The academies are funded by tax money and a great deal of it comes from assessments that are attached to fines levied by the courts as a result of legislation. The legislature saw fit to give Pinal County SO a million bucks to buy a helicopter while they took $1.8 million away from police training. They also took $12 million away from the state crime lab during the last two legislative sessions.
There's no vendetta as you always say. What I write is a simple statement of the facts and an opinion made on facts and experience.
As for the AG lying, Rep. Tobin and Sheriff Babeu have ZERO authority over the conduct of the AG. I suggest you complain as loudly and legally as possible to Senators McCain and Kyl and your district congressman. They have oversight of the Justice Department, not a state representative and rural county sheriff.
Again, thanks for reading my column and taking time to share your thoughts and ideas.
Stranger posted at 5:42 pm on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
We know very well where the guns most criminals use come from. Excluding domestic violence between 88 and 92 out of every 100 crime guns recovered have been stolen from a lawful purchaser. More than 300,000 guns are stolen each year, and the median time between theft and recovery is between 13.5 and 17 years. In that time, a stolen gun has probably been traded for drugs, purchased by a criminal, used in a crime, and traded back for drugs dozens of times.
We also know that gun theft is grand larceny. Yet you could count on your fingers the number of gun thieves who will go to jail on grand larceny charges this year. Trafficking a stolen gun is a felony, transporting a stolen gun is a felony, and on and on until the gun is finally found in the possession of a criminal. There is plenty of lip service but no real effort is being made to break up the illegal trade in stolen guns. Yet that is one of the most serious and most ignored crimes we have.
Gunwalker? At last report more than 350 Mexicans have been killed with guns the ATF and Justice department "walked to Mexico." Walked on Eric Holders order. Walked guns that are likely to come back to the US. Do you still have questions about why we call for Eric Holders resignation?
KJDaVinci777 posted at 6:24 pm on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
Attn: Bill...thanks for stating the facts...as for Leon, it is my opinion that he cannot handle the truth....As for the so-called transplant from Boston, Mr. Babozo, HE LIED DURING THE "ALIEN" shooting at the not so OK Pinal corral...thus you have one liar calling the other a liar. Both should resign and allow professionals to run their respective offices. At this point Holder is facing felony charges for his FF coverup, and Babozo should face state charges for his coverup of the "alien" bs shootoff story...
KJDaVinci777 posted at 7:08 pm on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
Both holder and el babozo should resign, however holder lied under oath and faces serious charges. Babozu lies to Arizonans everday.(But not under oath)I can not believe the Bozo is running for congress...Ariz. wake up !!
ChuckUF posted at 8:10 pm on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
Babeu forgot about local issues long ago. His only issue is to get to Washington and always has been (you were looking for vendetta weren't you Leon?). Babue has already exceeded his budget and curtailed training and ovetime. Officers around the county lack vital training at the local level and not just through AZ POST. To Babeu, Fast and Furious was just the rail car to jump onto to further his political career.
Rich posted at 9:44 pm on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
What you should, possibly, learn is that 'prohibited possessor' is a waste of time effort money and paperwork. If you are going to use a gun, use it better. Make sure you can shoot just once, not just empty it. With a high caliber handgun it takes work. That is personal, a skill, not something that Uncle should pay for, because it can't be bought. Guns are a part of the world, live with them. If you are someone who carries, hit a 12" paper plate every time at thirty yards. I hunt what is according to the shaven headed freak, the most dangerous place in the world, rife with criminals with AK47s. Shot my pig in a day this year. Marinating in two buck chuck, currently. In the valley sweetheart, you'd better hit me unawares with your AK47, because the answer is a cedar shaft through your heart. Your policemen don't understand their weapons, or how to use them. How do I know that? I was once in command of SP, we were prohibited by international law from using them, in the most dangerous places in the world.We kept the peace. If you're going to use a tool, use it well. If you're going to make gun laws in a democracy, make sure everyone uses one well.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 12:04 am on Sat, Jan 28, 2012.
Bill,
No, thank you for reading my comment. It is too bad that you can't grasp the simple fact that Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is not the ....."root of all evil in the World". Every single one of your columns some how manages to drag Sheriff Babeu's name in to it and through the mud too. All the readers can see this "obsession" you have with denigrating and ridiculing Sheriff Babeu. His scholastic, military and Law Enforcement achievements are exemplary. He works well with others as enumerated many, many times by other Arizona Law Enforcement dignitaries and even Border Patrol, I.C.E, D.E.A. leaders have nothing but praise for Sheriff Babeu.
What do you and only you see different ? Are you better qualified as a Law Enforcement ex-officer to judge the good Sheriff as opposed to the current Obama Administration top Border Patrol Director ???.
Leave what ever you have "imagined" slights or wrongs that you feel Sheriff Babeu has done to you personally at home...locked away in a small, dark closet in your soul.....and write about what you "know" for the readership of the East Valley Tribune
Masterrogue666 posted at 12:33 am on Sat, Jan 28, 2012.
Leon: That will never happen....
Rational Human posted at 9:03 am on Sat, Jan 28, 2012.
That Bill Richardson is on staff at this paper says a lot about the politics of this liberal, open border, pro illegal alien rag. He will denigrate any and all police or politicians who seek to control the invasion from the south. Everything he says in this paper falls into this category. I haven't read a word he has posted for a long time, but get the gist of his propaganda from the comments instead. Rage on Bill, we know who and what you are.
davidflucier posted at 9:13 am on Wed, Feb 1, 2012.
I find that I often do not agree with Bill on several subjects about which he writes, but Police Officer safety is not one of them.
Sweeping the police officer training fund is unconscionable and even more so at a time when more training is needed not less.
Our Legislators reflect a callous disregard for the safety of the community, these LEOs and their families when they, in effect, have ordered the halt to lifesaving training since defensive and use of deadly force skills are highly perishable as the folks who are a part of this world can readily attest.
Filling responses to this article with irrelevant subject matter and political rhetoric and simple minded, bumper sticker solutions is ludicrous, no...sublime. I mean...come on...hunting pigs and "pro illegal alien rag"...comparing a county sheriff to the President of the United States...cedar shaft through the heart...guess that little piggy won't be going, "wee, wee, wee all the way home". Tell me...what does any of that have to do with eliminating life saving training for LEOs and the safety of the community?