Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu was elected to the board of directors of the National Sheriffs’ Association at their annual conference hosted last week in Fort Worth, Texas.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, the primary goal of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) “is to preserve and protect the Office of Sheriff, so that the Sheriffs of this country can provide quality service to their constituents. They achieve this goal by being a voice for the Sheriffs of this nation, and by providing resources to Sheriffs all over the country.
Coming from very diverse jurisdiction, in terms of sizes and the challenges of their offices face, the 3,080 Sheriffs share the common goal of protecting the citizens that elected us, according to the group.
Sheriff Babeu said, “It’s a great privilege to represent my fellow elected Sheriffs on all public safety matters that affect our communities. Sheriffs are directly elected and we fully understand the need to be responsive to the needs and concerns of those we serve. Serving on the board will strengthen our ability to influence the national discussion on law enforcement issues that concern Arizona.”
Sheriff Babeu has been an active member of the NSA for the past six years and no further commitment of time is required, since he already attends the two official board meetings annually.
Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher said, “Sheriff Paul is well respected for his efforts to fight the Mexican Drug Cartels, illegal immigration and advocate for western states’ issues like maximum use of federal lands and wild-land fire safety. Paul represents Arizona well and everyone knows he’s not shy about fighting on our behalf.”
Sheriff Babeu was recognized by the NSA as the “2011 America’s Sheriff of the Year,” and he is the only Arizona Sheriff who has ever received this prestigious award. Sheriff Babeu has served two years as “President of the Arizona Sheriffs Association.” Sheriff Babeu served for over 20 years in the Army National Guard, entering as a Private/E-2 and retiring with the rank of Major. During his tenure he served a tour in Iraq and spent 16 months deployed in Arizona as a Commander with Operation Jump Start (OJS), Southwest Border Mission. Major Babeu commanded over 700 men and women on the United States border with Mexico, reducing illegal entries by 94%. Sheriff Babeu has received his Associates Degree in Law Enforcement Technology, Bachelor’s Degree in History and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration.