Why I withdrew my appointees from Community Law Enforcement Partnership Commission

Decision to withdraw appointees from Community Law Enforcement Partnership Commission was the only principled option

Last week, I announced my decision to withdraw my appointees to the Community Law Enforcement Partnership Commission after reviewing videos of the Commission's meeting.

Initially, I opposed the formation of the Commission, rejecting the effort by supervisors Ramon Valadez, Sharon Bronson, and Richard Elias to impose their will, through surrogates, upon our duly elected Sheriff Mark Napier.

Membership on the Commission includes appointees from each supervisor district. Some commissioners are current or former members of law enforcement.

After hearing from members of the public, members of the Commission, and reviewing video footage of the Commission's meeting, it became very clear that it is not serving the community's best interests.

The behavior of commissioners, in some cases, is shocking. In other cases, it is simply disappointing:

Garcia tries to silence Parish during 2/11/2019 CLEPC meeting

Pima County Community Law Enforcement Partnership Commission CNA discussion Part 1

Isabel Garcia explains that she opposes grants because officers are "quick to use bombs'

Pima County Community Law Enforcement Partnership Meeting begins 2-11-2019

The Commission is not serving the Pima County Sheriff's Office

One member of the Commission, a retired law enforcement officer posted on Facebook the following in response to the withdrawal:

"I'm surprised it took this long. It's called the Citizen Law Enforcement Partnership Commission. Some members are not Citizens and there is certainly no partnership. Just insults and accusations every meeting. It is a pointless exercise in futility until the Democrat Board members can appoint members who are willing to put their agendas aside and work to make the entire community safer and better. We are sure to disagree and that is America but insults and outright lies have no place in our system."

One of Supervisor Ramon Valadez's appointees to the Commission wrote a Letter to the Editor to a local newspaper. He wrote in part:

Given the recent withdraw of CLEPC members by two members of the Board of Supervisors, I find it necessary to resign my appointment.

The board (Community Law Enforcement Partnership Commission) is comprised of members of law enforcement and those who oppose the rule of law. The name itself is misleading, as there is no "partnership" involved. The commission presents a platform opportunity for those who believe that only politically expedient laws should be followed and that anything that supports law enforcement is something to be opposed.

Simple equipment purchases are delayed and later voted against simply because there are more anti-law enforcement members than those who support the rule of law.

Almost all of the anti-law enforcement members of the commission have family members who have suffered the consequences of their illegal behaviors and blame the "system" for them having a consequence to their criminality. As a former deputy sheriff, I have always attempted to be a part of a group of individuals that prides themselves on being fair and equitable. CLEPC represents the worst of our society, those who would pervert the law in an attempt to further their own agendas while at the same time professing to support the police.

The bottom line is this: The Pima County Sheriff's deputies work tirelessly to preserve peace and safety. Contrary to the claims of politically motivated commissioners, our deputies perform their duties in a fair manner:

Again, the number of citizen complaints brought against Pima County deputies show that they perform their duties in a professional manner.

I would like to hear your thoughts on the decision to withdraw our appointees, and suggestions for going forward.

NEXT BOARD

MEETING

February 19, 2019

9:00 a.m.

Administration Bldg - East 130 W. Congress Street 1st Floor Tucson, AZ 85701

130 W Congress, 11th Floor

Tucson, AZ 85701

Phone: 520-724-2738 | Email: [email protected]

www.allymillerdistrict1.com