by Lisa Everett | Jul 24, 2025 | Opinion
By Lisa Everett |
On Wednesday, July 16th, I attended the quarterly public meeting held by the federal monitor overseeing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, alongside Sheriff Jerry Sheridan. These meetings are intended to gather community input regarding the continued federal oversight. Historically, these sessions have been dominated by voices calling for the oversight to continue — but not anymore.
The people of Maricopa County are fed up. We’re tired of the federal government wasting taxpayer dollars, constantly shifting the goalposts, and interfering with our local law enforcement. Last week, hundreds of concerned citizens showed up to support Sheriff Sheridan and his dedicated team. And we’re not done. We will continue to make our voices heard every quarter until Judge Snow hears us loud and clear: enough is enough.
Out of thirteen mandated benchmarks from Judge Snow, the Sheriff’s Office has met twelve. The only remaining issue? Hispanic individuals, on average, experience encounters that are 17 seconds longer than individuals of other races. Seventeen seconds. That is the justification being used to prolong this multimillion-dollar oversight?
As someone who has worked in customer service, I can tell you that when a language barrier is involved, conversations naturally take longer. It’s not discrimination — it’s respect. It’s a commitment to ensuring clarity, understanding, and fairness. I would often take several minutes longer, not just seconds, to ensure someone understood important documents or procedures. That’s called good service — not racism.
Yet the ACLU and federal monitors insist this slight timing difference is grounds for continued federal control. They are actively seeking racism in places where it does not exist, undermining the professionalism and integrity of our Sheriff’s Office.
It’s time to end this charade. The citizens of Maricopa County demand the immediate termination of this federal monitoring. Let our sheriff do his job without unnecessary interference and outrageous costs.
Stop the federal monitoring of our Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Lisa Everett serves as the Legislative District 29 Chair. You can follow her on X here.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 13, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help bolster communications between law enforcement officials and Arizonans with disabilities is advancing through the state legislature.
Earlier this week, the Arizona House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety & Law Enforcement passed HB 2330, which was sponsored by State Representative Julie Willoughby. If signed into law, this proposal would “direct the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to allow individuals to voluntarily disclose if they or their vehicle have a communication disability, ensuring that this information is accessible to law enforcement officers during traffic stops and other interactions.”
In a statement that accompanied a press release to announce the bill’s progress, Willoughby said, “Public safety means making sure all Arizonans – especially those with unique needs – are understood and protected in interactions with law enforcement. HB 2330 is a commonsense step to give officers the tools they need to respond appropriately while giving individuals with communication disabilities the opportunity to self-identify in a way that can help de-escalate situations.”
Representative Willoughby added, “This bill aligns with the House Republican Majority’s commitment to secure communities, ensuring law enforcement has the resources and information they need to do their jobs effectively and safely.”
According to Willoughby’s release, “Under current law, ADOT provides a medical code designation on a driver’s license but does not retain it in records unless specifically requested.” This bill “improves on this by allowing individuals to voluntarily disclose communication disabilities in both driver and vehicle records, ensuring that first responders have timely access to this critical information.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Town of Gilbert, City of Goodyear, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, League of Arizona Cities & Towns, City of Chandler, and Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, endorsed the proposal from Representative Willoughby.
HB 2330 sailed through the House committee with an overwhelmingly bipartisan 15-0 vote. It will soon be considered by the full chamber.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a Monday press release, Arizona State Representative Lupe Diaz announced that he and his fellow House Republicans will honor the dedication and sacrifice of law enforcement officers across the state and nation on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, January 9th. Diaz and the House GOP are inviting all Arizonans to join them.
In the release Diaz said, “In a time when some mismanaged cities and misguided politicians are still pushing to defund law enforcement, Arizona House Republicans stand firmly and proudly with our law enforcement professionals.”
“We deeply appreciate – and will continue to support – the brave men and women who work to protect our families and maintain public safety in our communities.”
The release explained that on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day the legislators are leading an effort to bring forth a visible and tangible expression of Arizona’s support for its Law Enforcement Community with the public encouraged to “show their support by thanking an officer, wearing blue, or sharing messages of appreciation on social media using the #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay hashtag.”
As reported by The Officer Down Memorial Page, four Law Enforcement Officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024:
- Officer Zane Tristan Coolidge, 29, of the Phoenix Police Department was shot and killed by a fleeing felon with multiple convictions on September 6th
- Detective Ryan So, 38, of the Scottsdale Police Department lost his life in a tragic accidental discharge on June 13th
- Gila River Tribal Police Officer Joshua Briese, 24, was shot and killed responding to a disturbance call on June 1st. He was still in field training.
- Tucson Police Lead Officer Adam Buckner, 31, was struck and killed in a vehicle collision while responding to a call for service on March 31st.
Through the Arizona State Troopers Association (ASTA), those wishing to show their support can also purchase post cards for officers they wish to thank and appreciate. On the organization’s website, the ASTA says, “Hands down the biggest compliment you can give is to let the officer’s supervisor know that you appreciated whatever the officer did. (The best way is a written note to the chief executive). Why? Because police officers rarely are ever thanked or told that they did a great job.”
The State Troopers Association also recommended penning a letter to the editor of your local newspaper thanking officers for their community dedication and/or putting together a treat of cookies or a dozen doughnuts from your local bakery and leaving them with the department with a thank you card.
Representative Diaz represents the 19th Legislative District and chairs the House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee.
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 Daniel Stefanski | May 14, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona legislators are taking action to support the state’s law enforcement.
Earlier this month, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1683, which “establishes rules for the cross certification of peace officers from states adjoining to Arizona” – according to the overview from the state House of Representatives.
Senator David Gowan, the sponsor of the proposal, issued a statement following the governor’s action on his bill. He wrote, “Arizona’s law enforcement agencies in rural and border communities are currently understaffed, as they attempt to tackle both border-related crimes and routine calls for service. They should have the ability to call for backup support from law enforcement in neighboring states during emergency situations. States bordering Arizona, like California, have laws allowing Arizona peace officers to aid their law enforcement in emergency situations, but our law enforcement does not have the same ability.”
Gowan added, “My bill, SB 1683, which was just signed into law, will help fix this issue by allowing our law enforcement to invite peace officers from adjoining states to provide their assistance in Arizona when needed, as well as conduct cross-certification. Cross-certified peace officers may exercise all of the powers of Arizona peace officers, if directed by their agency in an emergency situation. According to Coconino County Sheriff Joe Driscoll, lives will be saved because of this new law.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as County Supervisors from Coconino, endorsed the legislation.
In March, the Arizona Senate passed the bill with a bipartisan 23-5 vote (with two members not voting). Last month, the Arizona House approved an amended version of the legislation with a unanimous 60-0 result. The Senate concurred with the House’s changes with a 23-6 vote (with one member not voting) before sending it to the Governor’s Office.
Earlier this session, Senator Wendy Rogers posted about the bill as it progressed through the legislative process, saying, “Thank you Coconino Sheriff Jim Driscoll and deputies for putting forward SB 1683 to supplant Coconino County with cross-state-border law enforcement augmentation.”
SB 1683 will go into effect 90 days after the conclusion of the 2024 Arizona Legislative Session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 28, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Senate Republicans have a plan to mitigate the effects of the crisis at the southern border.
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans held a press conference to announce their proposals to “provide law enforcement the support they need to defend our citizens against these threats.”
One of the bills Republicans will seek to pass through the legislature, the Arizona Border Invasion Act, is sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp. According to the Senate Republicans’ news release, this legislation would grant local, county, or state law enforcement officers the statutory authority to make arrests of three categories of individuals:
- any non-US citizens who enter [Arizona] from anywhere but a lawful entrance point
- any non-US citizens who have been denied entry, or have already been removed from [the United States]
- any non-US citizens who have been ordered to leave because of one of the above crimes but are refusing to comply with the order.
The other bill highlighted by Republicans was Senator David Gowan’s Aggravated Unlawful Flight Act, which would “create tougher penalties for drivers who endanger the life of another person while attempting to flee law enforcement, prompting a high-speed chase.” Additionally, Senator Gowan’s bill would “create greater penalties against drivers who cause harm to another person during a high-speed chase, or those who are transporting a child under the age of 15.”
“Joe Biden and his administration have made it unequivocally clear that they have abandoned their duties to enforce immigration policy at the federal level,” said Senator Shamp. “As a result, our communities and our citizens are suffering the dire consequences of the lawlessness associated with tens of thousands of people, many of whom are criminals, illegally entering our state each month with no repercussions. It is our duty as state legislators to ensure the safety of our citizens and our law enforcement, which is why I’m calling on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation.”
“This is the worst border crisis in U.S. history. Our local sheriffs are overwhelmed, outnumbered, and their lives are in danger,” said Senator Gowan. “Our communities are suffering from the deadly fentanyl, rapes, murders, high-speed chases, kidnappings, human smuggling, child sex trafficking, and other heinous crimes carried out by those who are entering our state illegally. We can’t just sit idly by and watch Biden’s border invasion destroy Arizona. I’m urging members of the Legislature to pass our bills and for the Governor to sign them. Lives are on the line, and the hands of our local law enforcement are currently tied.”
Both Republicans and Democrats realize the importance of dealing with the historic crisis at the border, though members of both parties generally have vastly different opinions about the solutions. At the start of this new legislative session, the border was a central theme in Governor Katie Hobbs’ State of the State address. Hobbs asserted that she “delivered on multiple fronts to help mitigate the crisis, including the launch of Operation SECURE and the creation of a Border Coordination Office within the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.
Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma immediately released a video in the aftermath of the governor’s address, responding to the issues she raised to onlooking legislators. Toma argued that despite Hobbs’ attempt to make Arizonans “believe she’s all about securing our border and ending the lawlessness caused by Joe Biden’s immigration system…her record is one of open borders…and she’s continued that approach as governor.” Petersen talked about “major mistakes” from Hobbs by vetoing three bills in particular “that would have kept families safe from drugs and crime.”
During 2023, the first year of a rare, divided government in the Grand Canyon State, legislative Republicans consistently pointed out that the reality with the border crisis could have been more daunting for Arizonans if not for their check on Democrats. When Hobbs signed the state budget compromise in May, Petersen noted his members “prevented the Governor and Democrat Legislators from advancing their extremist agenda,” and promised “we’re not getting rid of state-funded border security resources to keep our communities safe.” Despite Hobbs’ efforts to be perceived as taking the border crisis seriously in the new year, she is unlikely to work with legislative Republicans on much – if any – fixes to help mitigate the lawlessness and consequences for affected communities, likely spelling doom for the two recently introduced border bills should the legislature send the proposals to the Governor’s Office.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
