Sheriff asks Arizona tribes for gaming revenues to buy equipment

Tuesday, July 3, 2012  

Arizona is known for controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio but there's another law enforcement official in town who's drawing scrutiny.

The Arizona Republic said Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu asked the Tohono O'odham Nation and the Gila River Indian Community for over $75,000 in gaming revenues. He wants to use the money to buy 52 automated external defibrillators.

The problem is that Babeu already received similar equipment through a surplus program run by the Defense Department. But he says those machines are too complex for his deputies to use, so he has lent them to non-law enforcement agencies in potential violation of Pentagon rules, the paper reported.

Babeu also suggested that he could raise money for his office by auctioning equipment he received from DoD. But that's also not allowed by federal regulations, the paper said.

Babeu is running for re-election as sheriff. He started running for Congress but ended his campaign after a man came forward and said Babeu threatened to deport him when their relationship ended.

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Pinal County Sheriff's Office seeks tribal grant for defibrillators (The Arizona Republic 7/3)