Maricopa County is in search of a new sheriff after Sheriff Paul Penzone officially resigned this week.
Penzone’s resignation comes just months before the election of a successor. Chief Deputy Sheriff Russ Skinner will serve as interim sheriff until the county board of supervisors can appoint a replacement, who will be a Democrat. In a press release, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers thanked Penzone for his tenure.
“I would like to thank Sheriff Penzone for going above and beyond to keep Maricopa County residents safe,” said Sellers. “In particular, I appreciate his collaboration on security matters related to elections.”
The Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications to appoint the next @mcsoaz Sheriff, who will serve in the role until voters elect a Sheriff this November. Applications will be accepted until January 19th. Learn more & see how to apply: https://t.co/LrW5Ubt7kRpic.twitter.com/jGRsHodivG
The sheriff isn’t headed for retirement. Blue Cross Blue Shield has hired Penzone to oversee the insurer giant’s charity initiatives and community programs, which will include allocating funds to seed programs.
Penzone first took on the role of county sheriff in 2016, when he ousted longtime Sheriff Joe Arpaio — now Fountain Hills mayoral candidate — with the help of millions from progressive dark money financier George Soros. Penzone’s race was the largest cash flow in a local race put out by Soros that year.
That well-financed race was Penzone’s second attempt to unseat Arpaio after an initial, unsuccessful bid in 2012.
Penzone announced his intent to resign last October.
On his last day, Friday, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) posted a video featuring Penzone reciting former President Theodore Roosevelt’s monologue, “The Man in the Arena,” reflecting on his time as sheriff. Penzone didn’t attribute the monologue to Roosevelt.
“It is the men and women of MCSO who are in the arena,” said Penzone. “I hope that you express gratitude for them whenever you cross their paths, because their sacrifice and their work often goes unappreciated but it is the difference between living in a safe community or living in a space of fear.”
Penzone’s legacy included the establishment of identity-based community advisory boards, a K9 drug detection unit for jails, a motorcycle traffic enforcement fleet, deputy service aides for lower priority calls (like thefts, burglaries, and crashes), a tactical fugitive apprehension unit, two mental health services for MCSO staff, and the shutting down of Arpaio’s controversial Tent City jail program.
In place of that last program, Penzone established a substance abuse counseling program.
Reflecting on Sheriff Penzone’s tenure, we're sharing the impactful contributions he made since taking office in 2017.
8⃣: Under Sheriff Penzone, three community advisory boards were established to serve as liaisons between the Sheriff's Office & the diverse communities…
On Tuesday, Senate President Warren Petersen issued a press release, blasting his Democrat counterparts for “refusing to come to the table for budget negotiations.”
🚨 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senate Democrats Kick Off 2024 by Refusing to Come to the Table for Budget Negotiations
Petersen’s release revealed that the Senate Appropriations Chairman, John Kavanaugh, had transmitted two messages to Democrats – one on December 21, 2023, and the other on January 4, 2024. Those emails requested “input on which areas of government the Minority Caucus would prefer to reduce expenditures on, and which areas to prioritize continued funding for. According to Senate Republicans, not only have Kavanaugh’s emails gone without “response or acknowledgement,” but Petersen “was informed the Minority Leader is directing her Caucus not to engage with the Senate Appropriations Chairman on the budget.”
In a statement accompanying the news release, Petersen said, “It’s unfortunate we’re kicking off this legislative session with Senate Democrats playing games at the expense of our taxpayers. It’s time to be adults. We want all lawmakers to be at the table during budget negotiations, as the citizens of Arizona expect of their elected leaders, but we’ve heard nothing but crickets from the Minority Leader on her statutory obligation. We may have no other choice but to move forward without their input.”
The Senate Republican leader’s words hit a nerve with the chamber’s Democrats, who fired back through their “X” account, writing, “FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE: it’s day 2 of session. You’ve moved forward on every other budget without Democrats, so this newest attempt at grandstanding falls flat. The state’s revenue picture has gotten worse month over month, so you know it’s not fiscally responsible to make budget decisions prior to the next Finance Advisory Committee meeting.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE: it's day 2 of session.
You've moved forward on every other budget without Democrats, so this newest attempt at grandstanding falls flat. The state’s revenue picture has gotten worse month over month, so you know it’s not fiscally responsible to make… https://t.co/bVERhgqoOn
Senate Republicans corrected the record by reminding Democrats that they had “actually invited Democrats to the table last year as well.” The Republican Caucus shared an email from Kavanaugh from March 2, 2023, in which he extended an invitation to the Senate Minority Leader to “begin the process of discussing with you the budget priorities of the Senate Democratic Caucus.”
“You've moved forward on every other budget without Democrats”
🚨FACT CHECK: We actually invited Democrats to the table last year as well, but don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. 😏 pic.twitter.com/Hql3FE1WOM
The early back-and-forth between the two political parties follows Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs’ second State of the State address, where she called on legislators to “find common ground” and to “work together to solve this gap.”
Both parties have vastly differing approaches to solving the state’s budget shortfall, though their rhetoric is somewhat similar at the start of the legislative session. In the Senate Republicans’ Majority Plan for 2024, they vowed to complete this mission “without irresponsibly tapping into the Rainy-Day Fund or using budget gimmicks,” promising instead to “use sound fiscal management strategies, like trimming unnecessary spending and prioritizing government’s top functions.” Hobbs stated that her soon-to-be-released budget would “rein in wasteful spending without sacrificing public safety and public education, establish guardrails on unaccountable programs without hurting hard-working families, and tighten our collective belts through increased efficiencies and innovation without gutting programs that support small businesses, seniors, and those in need.”
Last year, House and Senate Republicans approved a budget that was vetoed by Hobbs. Despite many partisan fights in the public eye between Republicans and the governor, Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma deftly managed a surprise budget compromise, in which their policy priorities remained largely intact. Hobbs will be under increased pressure this time around to extract more concessions from Republicans – especially over the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
At least five individuals have been arrested in connection to various attacks in the Valley allegedly carried out by members of a violent group known as the “Gilbert Goons.”
Those arrested with an alleged connection to the violent group so far: Aris Arredondo, 18; Christopher Fantastic, 18; Jacob Pennington, 20; and two 16-year-old juveniles.
At least one individual, Jacob Pennington, admitted his involvement with the violent group in a statement to police. Pennington also claimed the name “Gilbert Goons” came from a Snapchat group chat.
On 11/18/23, PCSO was called in reference to an altercation in the desert area off of N. Wagon Wheel Rd. and W. Sun Dance Dr. in San Tan Valley. A 16yo male victim sustained minor injuries and declined medical treatment. He was not able to immediately identify his attackers. pic.twitter.com/gqZkHUl98E
Jacob’s brother, Noah, was arrested at least four times last year for apparently unrelated incidents of aggravated assault, drug possession/use, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, disorderly assault, and aggravated robbery.
Suspected members of the Gilbert Goons’ social media footprint was large prior to this slew of arrests. Independent internet sleuths and Gilbert locals have come forward to identify others potentially involved with the violent group, citing screenshots and active links to various profiles and postings on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Soundcloud.
Investigations into the violent group picked up after the murder of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek last Halloween and subsequent assaults across the Valley. For most locals and involved Arizonans, the Gilbert Goons’ involvement in Lord’s death is all but confirmed. Police have not linked Preston’s murder to the group.
There are reports that up to 40 individuals have involvement with the Gilbert Goons. The Gilbert Police Department (GPD) has asked for the public’s help in identifying other members or affiliates of the group based on photo and video evidence they’ve obtained of attacks dating back to 2022.
In addition to GPD, the following law enforcement agencies are involved in investigating the Gilbert Goons: the Arizona Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM), Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), and the Chandler, Mesa, and Queen Creek police departments.
The agencies are working to determine whether the Gilbert Goons may be classified as a criminal street gang (A.R.S. § 13-105). Arizona statute qualifies criminal street gang membership as a class 2 felony, while serving as an accomplice is a class 3 felony.
In a statement at Tuesday’s town council meeting, GPD Chief Michael Soelberg relayed that public information would be limited so as not to jeopardize ongoing investigations.
“We are combing through every detail of our past assault cases and arrests involving youth to determine if there are any connections or correlations and what are the relationships, if any, between those involved,” said Soelberg.
The Queen Creek Police Department is handling the investigation for the culprits behind the death of Preston Lord. As of Tuesday, GPD had nine active investigations related to the Gilbert Goons: four reopened and five new investigations.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) said that the case report on the Gilbert Goons included over 2,000 pieces of evidence making up just shy of 2,000 pages. Over 600 pieces of evidence are videos.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Pro-life activists have launched a new campaign to oppose a constitutional amendment that would legalize abortion up to birth in Arizona.
The campaign, “It Goes Too Far” (IGTF), aims to prevent the Arizona Abortion Access Act from qualifying for the ballot this November. In a press release, IGTF campaign manager Leisa Brug said that the amendment would jeopardize the safety of girls and women.
“Arizona abortion laws should protect girls and women, not put them at greater risk, but this amendment asks voters to expand abortion while cutting safety precautions,” said Brug. “What happened to the prized doctor-patient relationship? This takes the required qualified medical doctor out of the doctor-patient relationship and leaves women in the hands of unqualified providers. That is not making the health and safety of women a priority.”
IGTF argues that the abortion amendment would strip the state of any lawmaking authority concerning abortion, including safeguards and parental notice for minors, and would allow abortions up until birth. For the latter claim, IGTF cites the amendment language allowing post-viability exceptions for abortions in cases where a health care professional determines the pregnancy jeopardizes the mother’s mental health.
The activists further claim that the amendment language allowing any “health care professional” to conduct abortions would endanger women by expanding lawful abortionists to include non-physicians and non-doctors. Additionally, IGTF argues that sex abusers would be protected under the amendment’s prohibition against any state laws or regulations penalizing those who aid or assist the mothers obtaining abortions.
IGTF also argues that individuals would be required to finance and even assist in abortions due to language enshrining abortion as a “fundamental right.” The activists say that a lack of taxpayer funding for abortions or a health care professional’s conscience against providing an abortion could be construed as “interference” with obtaining an abortion.
Arizona law classifies a “health care professional” as any person licensed or certified across various chapters and titles of Arizona law, including podiatrists, chiropractors, dentists, naturopaths, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, psychologists, veterinarians, acupuncturists, athletic trainers, midwives, and more.
IGTF spokeswoman Olivia Escobedo told AZ Free News that their supporters are showing up wherever Arizona Abortion Access Act signature gatherers are situated in order to educate voters on the issue.
“Our supporters are there to let people know how dangerous this amendment is,” said Escobedo. “It has so many hidden agendas in the broad language.”
As part of that effort, IGTF established a database to report where the pro-abortion signature-gatherers set up camp.
Also involved in IGTF campaign are Laureen (Laurie) Mount, co-owner of MDS Communications, and Youssef Khalaf, CEO of both 100 Squared Financial and Data Orbital. The IGTF campaign has both nonprofit and political action committee arms.
Mount and her husband, Jay, are among the top donors for the campaign, along with Dave Lambert.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona’s House of Representatives unanimously stood with the nation of Israel on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 56th Legislature.
On Monday, the Arizona House and Senate resumed operations, and Speaker Ben Toma wasted no time in using the opportunity to support one of America’s staunchest allies.
Toma called for and obtained passage by unanimous consent of House Concurrent Resolution 2009, which expresses the support of his chamber for the “nation of Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its citizens from terrorism.”
Yesterday, the Arizona Legislature kicked off the 56th Second Regular Session by passing my resolution standing with Israel and calling for the elimination of Hamas. It is important for leaders to stand up for what is right. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle…
In a statement posted to “X,” Speaker Toma said, “Yesterday, the Arizona Legislature kicked off the 56th Second Regular Session by passing my resolution standing with Israel and calling for the elimination of Hamas. It is important for leaders to stand up for what is right. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle joining me to unanimously declare Arizona stands with Israel.”
The resolution expressed the “most heartfelt condolences” from Members “to all Israeli victims as well as their families and communities.” It also declared “support” for “Arizonans law enforcement community in its efforts to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, Jewish Americans and all supporters of Israel from acts of crime and unlawful discrimination that tend to manifest in times of turmoil.”
The Republican Speaker also co-wrote an opinion piece for the Arizona Republic on January 3, where he wrote, “we wholly condemn Hamas, categorically call for Hamas’ elimination – and strongly urge all of Arizona’s leaders, including state lawmakers, to do the same.”
"We wholly condemn Hamas, categorically call for Hamas' elimination — and strongly urge all of Arizona's leaders, including state lawmakers, to do the same."
I encourage you to read my joint op-ed with Prescott Mayor Phil Goode and Meritage Homes Executive Chairman Steve Hilton…
The resolution from the Arizona House of Representatives on Monday follows a Joint Legislative Proclamation, which was issued by Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen on October 11, to “denounce the horrific acts of war against Israel and support Israel’s right to defend itself” – among other calls to action for the Legislature. The Arizona Capitol Dome was lit ‘blue’ that week “to show Arizona’s support for Israel.”
Today a Joint Proclamation Supporting Israel has been signed by @votewarren & @RepBenToma and condemns the hateful attack on our ally. Let's turn the Capitol Dome light blue to show AZ's support for Israel.
America should deny demands from Mexico for billions of dollars in order to stop the flow of illegal immigration, according to U.S. Senate candidate Mark Lamb on Tuesday.
Lamb, a Republican and the current sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, criticized Mexican President Lopez Obrador’s list of demands which the United States would need to meet in exchange for Mexico to help slow illegal immigration across the southern border.
“I consider the demands made by Mexico as DOA – dead on arrival,” Lamb said. “The last time I looked, the Mexican President doesn’t get to set U.S. domestic and foreign policy. I call upon the entire Arizona Congressional delegation to unite and publicly reject these conditions imposed by Mexico.”
Obrador demanded the U.S. give $20 billion to Latin American and Caribbean countries; grant work visas to 10 million Hispanics who have worked in the U.S. for at least 10 years; and end sanctions against Venezuela and halt the blockade of Cuba.
Mexico is responsible for slowing illegal immigration into America, according to Lamb.
“As our southern neighbor, the responsibility is on them to do everything they can to work with us – without preconditions – to stop the hundreds of thousands of illegals crossing our mutual border,” Lamb said. “We shouldn’t take kindly to having a gun put to our head just to have Mexico do what’s right.”
Lamb said the Mexican president’s demands are an example of President Joe Biden’s “lost control of the border.”
Border Patrol encountered 2.5 million migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2023, topping the previous year’s record, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
“It’s bad enough that Biden doesn’t have a plan to stop the hundreds of thousands of illegals crossing the border and the fentanyl that comes with them, now Biden is allowing our nation to be held hostage by the President of Mexico,” Lamb continued.
Lamb is running for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat. He has said that if elected, he will work to secure the border with Trump-era policies.
“We’ve got to shut the border down, secure the border and we’ve got to restore the ‘Remain in Mexico’ program,” Lamb told Fox News.
“We’re gonna have a mass deportation situation on our hands and so we’ve got to get back to securing the border – first and foremost – which would stop the fentanyl,” Lamb continued to Fox News. “It would weaken the cartels and allow border patrol to get back to doing their jobs because right now they are completely handcuffed.”
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
