| Paul Babeu | |
|---|---|
| Babeu in December 2011. | |
| Sheriff of Pinal County | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Chris Vasquez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Raymond Babeu February 3, 1969 North Adams, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Republican |
| Occupation | Sheriff |
Paul Raymond Babeu (born February 3, 1969) is the elected Sheriff of Pinal County in the U.S. state of Arizona. First voted into office in 2008 by defeating the Democrat incumbent, Babeu became the first Republican Sheriff elected in the history of Pinal County.[1] He has received national media attention for speaking out against illegal immigration[2], the unsecured US border with Mexico, and Operation Fast and Furious gun smuggling facilitated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.[3]
Babeu is President of the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association[4] and was named the National Sheriff of the Year in 2011 by the National Sheriffs’ Association[5]. Babeu is Arizona’s youngest Sheriff and leads the third largest Sheriff’s Office in Arizona with 700 full-time employees.[6]
On October 23, 2011, Babeu announced the formation of an exploratory committee to run for U.S. Congress.[7]
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Babeu was born on February 3, 1969 in North Adams, Massachusetts to Raymond and Helen Babeu. Raymond Babeu was a longtime employee of the area's electric utility who was also active in local politics. Paul Babeu was 10th of 11 children born into the family.[8]
At age 17, while still in high school, Babeu campaigned against a proposed raise for North Adams, Massachusetts City Council members. 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.[8] In 1992, as a Republican, Babeu was elected to a four year term as a Berkshire County, Massachusetts Commissioner.[8] At the end of this term in 1996, Babeu won the Republican nomination for state senate against Peter Abair but lost in the general election to Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr..[9] He lost election for Mayor of North Adams, Massachusetts in 1997 and 2001.[8]
Babeu joined the Massachusetts National Guard as a 21-year-old. He started his service as a Private/E-2 and rose through the ranks to Major in the Arizona Army National Guard. 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). 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. Babeu retired in September 2010 after 20 years of service.[8]
Babeu served as Headmaster and later as Executive Director of DeSisto School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts from 1999-2001. The school closed in 2005, following the death of founder Michael DeSisto.[10]
In 2002, Babeu completed his Masters of Public Administration, graduating summa cum laude from American International College. He then moved to Arizona to pursue a law enforcement career as a Police Officer for the City of Chandler, Arizona. He graduated from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy as the #1 overall police recruit and voted by his fellow officers as the class exemplary officer.[6]
Babeu was awarded two Life Saving Medals in the performance of his duties as a Patrolman in Chandler. Babeu served as the Police Association President for the Chandler Police Department and on the board of directors for the Arizona Police Association.[6]
Babeu campaigned for the office of Pinal County Sheriff in 2008 and defeated Democrat Incumbent, Chris Vasquez, 54% to 46%.[11] He was the first Republican Sheriff elected in the history of Pinal County (founded in 1875).[12]
In 2009, Babeu reorganized the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, replacing the entire command leadership. He has since implemented strict employee standards, reduced emergency response times by 40%, and has sought and been awarded nearly $7 million in grants. He also honored a campaign promise to remove speed cameras from the county.[13]
Babeu has been an outspoken critic of the Federal government on the issue of illegal immigration. According to Babeu’s website, “Pinal County is the number one pass through county in all of America for drug and human smuggling.”[14] He reports that “Pinal County contains an estimated 75-100 drug cartel cells and listening posts/observation posts, used to facilitate the illegal transportation of people and narcotics into the United States.”[14] Babeu also helped U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. Senator Jon Kyl draft their “10-Point Border Security Plan.”[15]
In late 2010, Babeu was asked by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in his own department. This 6 month long detailed search led to the termination of Arpaio’s top two deputies.[16]
On October 23, 2011, Babeu announced the formation of an exploratory committee to run for U.S. Congress in what is expected to be the new 4th Congressional District of Arizona.[17] He serves on numerous committees with the National Sheriffs' Association, is an honorary board member for the National Organization for Victim Assistance, an advisory board member for HonorVet.org, and is involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post 97, and Military Order of the World Wars.
Babeu holds an Associate's Degree in Law Enforcement from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Political Science from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a Master of Public Administration from American International College.[6]
| Civic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Chris Vasquez |
Sheriff of Pinal County 2009–present |
Incumbent |