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Arizona FOP defends Sheriff Paul Babeu
Received article

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Phoenix, AZ -- Sgt. John Ortolano, Arizona President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), today defended Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, who has been attacked by US Senate candidate JD Hayworth. Hayworth compared the Sheriff with the KKK and racist David Duke.

Sgt. Ortolano said, "We're about to enforce SB 1070 and the White House doesn't trust Arizona Peace Officers to enforce the law without racially profiling. It is unfortunate that JD Hayworth has agreed and now wrongly attacked Sheriff Paul Babeu. The former congressman should know better than to attack law enforcement for political gain and he needs to retract his statements and apologize to the Sheriff. Just last week, Sheriff Babeu was publicly praised by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for his public statements against hate and bigotry."

Their statement: "At the same time it condemned Ready and the patrols, the ADL commended Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu for his weekend comments discouraging Ready and "those who espouse hatred or bigotry such as his" from continuing the patrols."

Sheriff Babeu was the honor graduate from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy and is a decorated Police Officer and Army Officer, who served in Iraq and commanded soldiers at the Arizona/Mexican border. Sheriff Babeu has been awarded two life savings medals as a Chandler Police Officer and awarded the meritorious service medal by Arizona's former Adjutant General David Rataczk. Sheriff Babeu serves as the President of the Arizona Sheriff's Association and a proud member of the Fraternal Order of Police.