by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 15, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
As the Arizona Legislature revs into another session, one Republican member is looking to protect the state’s military veterans.
Last week, State Representative Walt Blackman introduced HB 2030 to “strengthen penalties for impersonating a veteran for personal gain.” According to Blackman’s press release, this legislation would “combat fraudulent claims of military service and protect the integrity of veteran status within Arizona,” making this proposal “the most comprehensive state-level response to stolen valor to date.”
In a statement that accompanied his release, Blackman said, “We cannot allow the honorable service and sacrifice of our military men and women to be undermined by deceitful actors. This legislation sends a clear message that Arizona will not tolerate stolen valor in any form. By holding individuals accountable for misrepresenting their military status for personal, political, or financial gain, we uphold the integrity of our veterans’ contributions and the trust of our citizens.”
Per Representative Blackman’s press release, the bill would “create strong deterrents against impersonating a veteran, targeting fraudulent activities such as:
- Claiming military service or awards to obtain employment, government contracts, or veterans benefits.
- Using false veteran status to gain votes, campaign contributions, or political advantages.
- Falsifying or altering military documents, combat-related badges or awards.
Penalties range from a Class 4 felony to a Class 2 felony for offenses involving high-value benefits. The bill also mandates the removal of public officials convicted under the law.”
The release also shared that the bill would “build on the federal Stolen Valor Act of 2013 by addressing gaps in federal law and expand protections at the state level, [using] Arizona’s authority under the 10th Amendment to focus on fraudulent conduct affecting state programs, elections, and institutions.”
Representative Blackman is a decorated United States Army veteran, serving twenty-one years in the military. He earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal for his service to the nation. Blackman is the Chairman of the House Committee on Government.
‘Veterans Issues’ was one of the priorities listed on Blackman’s campaign website. He wrote, “As a veteran myself, I am committed to addressing the unique challenges veterans face in Arizona and proving them with the necessary support and resources.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Jan 14, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The city of Phoenix reported an overall decline in crime for 2024 but noted a marked rise in violence against police.
Notably, the city reported a “significant decrease” in homicides: around 28 percent. Overall crime declined by four percent. Yet, the incidents of violence perpetrated against police officers continues to increase (only officer-involved shootings declined). The Phoenix Police Department reported 14 incidents in which officers were on the receiving end of gunfire. One of those incidents resulted in the death of an officer.
“These incidents represent a complete disregard for law enforcement, the important role officers play in our community and the sanctity of life,” stated the department. “We have trained our officers well and will continue to take the next steps in advanced training to minimize the risk to our community members and officers as they put their lives on the line every day and night to keep our community safe.”
Phoenix police attributed part of the reduction in homicides to its 2024 Crime Reduction Plan released last June. That plan dedicated the department to prioritizing crackdowns on violent offenders, active areas of crime, prohibited gun possessors, and those with warrants. Police reported the number of juveniles arrested for homicide dropped from 23 in 2023 to seven last year; the number of juvenile homicide victims dropped from 23 in 2023 to 15 last year.
The city’s police attributed the overall reduction in crime to its coordinated investigations of syndicated crime and repeat offenders. These included Operation Makeup Breakup to investigate organized retail theft, Operation Full Court Press to investigate certain violent offenders, an FBI partnership investigating a hotel operating as a brothel, and Operation Night Owl to investigate a drug and money laundering network.
“The Phoenix Police Department will continue to strive to be a self-assessing and self-correcting agency while looking for additional ways to increase accountability and transparency,” said the department.
Phoenix police reported that staffing continued to be a challenge last year. The department took in just under 2,300 applications for sworn police officers, and about 160 started the Phoenix Police Academy (in 2023, there were about 150 recruits).
The top sources for applicants, in order, were the department website, a friend or family member, Indeed, employee referral, and then social media. However, the top sources for hired recruits came, in order, from a friend or family, an employee referral, social media, the website, and then billboards.
The department remains understaffed. The city has budgeted for about 3,000 officers; total sworn officers as of last November amounted to just over 2,500.
During last Tuesday’s meeting for the Public Safety and Justice subcommittee, Phoenix police also reported that their hiring total reduced from 167 officers in 2023 (150 men, 17 women) to 144 officers in 2024 (124 men, 20 women).
In order to improve its numbers, the police department said that it has continued traditional advertisement forms in TV, radio, print, and digital media as well as creating recruitment opportunities with Arizona Christian University, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona State University, and Grand Canyon University.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 14, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Republican Arizona Congressmen Andy Biggs (R-AZ-1), Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), and Eli Crane (R-AZ-05) have co-sponsored the first bill by freshman lawmaker, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX-26), the REMAIN in Mexico Act. If enacted, it would cement the first-term immigration policy championed by President-elect Donald Trump. They were joined by 77 other Republicans co-sponsoring the bill.
According to Gill, the “Remain in Mexico” policy, officially known as the migrant protection protocols, was first implemented by the Trump administration in January 2019. This set of policies allowed federal authorities to return non-Mexican asylum-seeking illegal immigrants to Mexico to await immigration proceedings.
The new bill will require the Secretary of Homeland Security to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocol in accordance with 2019 Homeland Security documentation titled “Policy Guidance for Implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols.”
“President Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy was extremely successful, resulting in fewer illegal border crossings, fewer fraudulent asylum claims, and more deportations,” Gill explained in a statement. “But immediately after taking power in 2021, Democrats undid nearly all of President Trump’s border protection policies, unleashing mass chaos and destruction throughout our heartland.
Over the past four years, the Biden administration has allowed over 10 million illegal aliens to invade our country, and critics say it prioritized criminal illegal aliens over law abiding American citizens.
As a result, says Gill, “illegal aliens are murdering, raping, and pillaging American citizens.”
“This must end now,” Gill said. “The American people gave President Trump and Republicans a mandate to secure our border, and Congress must pass the REMAIN in Mexico Act as a first step to secure our border and fix the problems Democrats created in our country.”
In a statement to AZ Free News, Rep. Crane commented, “This legislation is common sense. It codifies one of President Trump’s most successful policies, which was foolishly reversed under the open-borders Biden regime.”
“It’s outrageous that some of our leaders can’t be trusted to prioritize the security of American citizens, making this legislation necessary,” continued Crane. “I’m proud to cosponsor this bill that puts America first.”
In a subsequent interview with Newsmax, Gill wrote, “The REMAIN in Mexico Act is common sense legislation that would stop the deluge of illegal aliens pouring into our country. We now have over 80 Republican co-sponsors. I hope some of my colleagues from across the aisle will join us, but we can pass this bill with or without Democrat support.”
Fellow freshman Congressman Hamadeh shared the bill to X with a similar sentiment, “I’m proud to champion this vital bill to help keep our communities safe and codify the policy that made President Trump’s America much safer than Joe Biden’s.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 14, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new study based on FBI crime data has identified the areas most afflicted by crime in the state of Arizona and found Mohave County to be a crime hotspot.
According to the research by Suzuki Law, through analysis of crime rates per 100,000 residents in each county’s jurisdiction, Mohave County ranked highest followed by Pima and Yuma Counties, La Paz County, and finally Maricopa County rounding out the top five.
The report found:
- “Mohave County holds the top place with a total crime score of 99.54. Its monthly average property crime rate is 167.9 per 100,000 residents, about 121% above the statewide average of 76.1. The county has a violent crime rate of 108.5, roughly 74% higher than the statewide average of 62.2.
- Pima County follows in second place with a total crime score of 88.27. The average monthly property crime rate stands at 168.2 per 100,000, the highest among all counties in Arizona. On the other hand, the county’s violent crime rate of 83.7 is 35% above the statewide average of 62.2.
- Coming in third, Yuma County has a crime score of 86.86. Its average monthly property crime rate of 124.0 per 100,000 is nearly 63% above Arizona’s average. Yuma County has the highest violent crime rate in Arizona, at 109.3. This is around 76% higher than the statewide average of 62.2.
- La Paz County ranks fourth with a crime score of 79.43. Here, the monthly property crime rate is 140.5 per 100,000, about 85% more than the state average of 76.1, and the violent crime rate of 82.3 is 32% above the state average of 62.2.”
A spokesman for Suzuki Law commented on the clear disparity favoring crimes against property saying, “The data indicates that property crimes are a major issue in Arizona, especially in counties like Mohave, Pima, and Yuma. While all types of crime have serious implications for community safety, the prevalence of property offenses in these counties demands focused attention from law enforcement and policymakers.”
Maricopa County, despite the obvious handicap of having the largest population by far, ranked relatively low at fifth place with an property crime rate of 105.6 per 100,000, about 39% higher than the state average of 76.1 and with violent crime at 71.3 or about 15% over the state average of 62.2.
In the top ten ranking, five counties are notably absent: Pinal, Apache, Graham, Navajo and Santa Cruz.
Top 10 Arizona Counties by Overall Crime Rate Score
1. Mohave County — 99.54
2. Pima County — 88.27
3. Yuma County — 86.86
4. La Paz County — 79.43
5. Maricopa County — 63.99
6. Gila County — 61.62
7. Yavapai County — 54.10
8. Cochise County — 46.21
9. Greenlee County — 43.20
10. Coconino County — 39.08
The law firm suggested that the installation of proactive security measures are among the most effective deterrents but stressed the need for legal assistance for victims. “Installing home security systems is one of the most effective ways to protect your property, with studies showing it can reduce burglary risks by up to 60%.” The attorneys also called for personal vigilance, situational awareness, and the avoidance of high crime areas.
Community-led initiatives are also valuable. “Neighborhood watch programs have proven to reduce crime rates by 16% in participating areas,” they observed.
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office was contacted to comment on this report but did not reply by the publication deadline.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Jan 13, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The inventor and top distributor of the Taser, Axon Enterprise, scrapped plans for its new headquarters in Scottsdale.
Not only will the Scottsdale-based company not be breaking ground on its new headquarters as planned — they may move out of Arizona completely after over 30 years in the Valley. Axon says that the results of a forthcoming ballot referendum from another state’s labor union are to blame.
Rick Smith, Axon Enterprise CEO and founder, said in a press release that ongoing “political games” from a California-based labor union-led referendum put their entire operations at risk.
“[T]he uncertainty caused by this referendum forces us to confront a tough reality: we can’t allow political games to put our mission or our team at risk,” said Smith.
Apart from its headquarters in Scottsdale, Axon also has offices in Boston, Massachusetts; Seattle, Washington; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; London, England; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Tampere, Finland; Sydney, Australia; Melbourne, Australia.
Axon’s decision to cancel the groundbreaking came just two months after the Scottsdale City Council approved the company’s plans for the development.
The labor union, Unite Here, and its Phoenix-based political arm, Worker Power Institute, led on the offending ballot referendum, which would effectively reverse the Scottsdale City Council’s zoning changes allowing residential development.
The planned complex site was formerly established as an industrial zone. The new headquarters would have housed about 1,900 apartments and condos, a hotel, and multiple restaurants.
Last month, reports emerged that Unite Here attempted to coerce Axon into “a shakedown” agreement awarding the union exclusive collective bargaining agency in exchange for a withdrawal of the referendum. A spokesperson with the labor union denied their organization having any contact with Axon; an organization attorney reportedly contacted Axon over the leaked communications.
Under the alleged proposed agreement with Unite Here, Axon would have been required to notify the union of plans to solicit bids or proposals from business operators and require operating businesses to work with the union to screen applicants.
Scottsdale has been home to Axon since its founding in 1993. The company grew from Taser production to other technologies and weapons for law enforcement, military, and civilians.
“Our focus remains on saving lives, improving public safety and attracting the brightest minds to join us,” said Smith. “If that means relocating to a community that fully supports those goals, we’re prepared to make that move. This type of political interference risks not only this project but also Arizona’s ability to attract and retain major employers in the future.”
Axon’s press release also noted that Unite Here and Worker Power Institute led a successful campaign to thwart arena development efforts for the Arizona Coyotes.
“That campaign ultimately led to Arizona losing a major sports franchise,” stated the press release. “Axon’s leadership has raised concerns that such political interference risks undermining Arizona’s ability to attract and retain major employers.”
One impact study cited by Axon projected their new headquarters would support up to 5,500 high-wage jobs, generate $11.5 million in annual city tax revenues, and contribute $3.6 billion to the state’s economy annually.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 13, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
With his oath of office once again taken, incumbent Republican Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02) announced he will be returning to the House Committee on Homeland Security. He will join fellow SEAL Rep. John McGuire (R-VA-05) and Congressional Freshman Class President Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
“I came to Washington to drain the Swamp and fight to secure our border. In the 119th Congress, I’ll be a committee member of both Oversight and Homeland Security, playing a direct role in fulfilling both of those objectives,” said Crane. “It’s an immense honor to, once again, to serve and represent the People of Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District. I will forcefully keep up the fight to put Arizonans and Americans FIRST.”
Crane’s subcommittee assignments have not been released as of this writing, however during his last term with the Homeland Security Committee he served on the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, and the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
Congruent with his assignment to the Homeland Security Committee, Crane released a statement the same day after the passage of the Laken Riley Act, which as the Congressman described, “would allow state attorneys general to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if immigration actions such as parole, violation of detention requirements, or other policy failures harm that state or its citizens.” The bill, if signed into law, will also update federal law making it mandatory for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to issue detainers and take custody of illegal aliens who commit theft-related crimes, such as shoplifting, under state and local law.
“I’m pleased to report that the Laken Riley Act passed out of the House of Representatives. This bill will protect our communities and give our law enforcement agencies the resources they need to prevent avoidable tragedies,” said Rep. Eli Crane. “It’s appalling that 159 Democrats sided with criminal aliens by voting against this commonsense measure. Despite their senseless opposition, I’m glad we were once again able to get this bill across the finish line. I appreciate Rep. Mike Collins for his leadership, and I look forward to its swift passage in the U.S. Senate before heading to President Trump’s desk.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
