The Mesa Police Department has decided that an upcoming “training” by conspiracy theorist John Guandolo will be the “last time” for such an event. The Department responded to pressure from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) accused Guandolo of being an Islamophobe.
Guandolo’s group Understanding the Threat (UTT) is scheduled to hold the law enforcement training May 16-18 in Mesa, at the invitation of the Arizona Police Association (APA).
In a response sent to CAIR, Interim Mesa Police Chief Michael J. Dvorak said the event was made possible “through a grant provided by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.” He said the Mesa Police Department “is not participating as a host, sponsor or monetary contributor.”
“I have directed our staff to explore other training opportunities in similar genres so our peace officers can have a comprehensive view of these topics. Thus, this will be the last time this specific training will be utilizing our training facility as we intend to move forward with other training opportunities,” stated Dvorak. “I have directed our staff to explore other training opportunities in similar genres so our peace officers can have a comprehensive view of these topics. Thus, this will be the last time this specific training will be utilizing our training facility as we intend to move forward with other training opportunities.”
Earlier this month, CAIR targeted Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. The group, which has ties with terrorists organizations, urged the Trump administration not to appoint Clarke to a post as assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Partnership and Engagement.
In 2014, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery rejected the ACLU’s assertion that the “Understanding the Threat” training is anti-Islam or disparaging of local Muslims. Montgomery argued that hundreds of Valley law enforcement officers have been trained by Guandolo, with no resulting claims of biased policing against Muslims in Maricopa County.
CAIR claims that Guandolo is an Islamophobe because he “has falsely stated U.S. mosques are planning armed attacks on law enforcement authorities and churches, that the Black Lives Matter movement is funded by “enemies of the United States.”