Pima Board Of Supervisors Reverse Course On Community Law Enforcement Partnership Committee

pima county
Pima County Board of Supervisors

In a board room devoid of mainstream press and the usual cast of characters in attendance for any and all meetings regarding the Pima County Community Law Enforcement Partnership Committee (CLEPC), the Board of Supervisors reversed course and abolished the controversial committee.

Looking haggard from political blowback, Democrat Supervisors Sharon Bronson and Ramon Valadez desperately joined with Republican Supervisors Ally Miller and Steve Christy in a 4-1 vote to abolish the CLEPC.

After the Call to the Audience, Chairman Richard Elias, began his two-and-a-half-minute diatribe which included blatant mistruths. Elias stated, “Some members didn’t take the Commission seriously and refused to ever assign people to be on the commission since its inception.”

That simply was not the case.

Elias thanked local anti-law enforcement activists Isabel Garcia, a retired public defender and head of the notoriously radical Derechos Humanos, and Jessica Rodriguez, a self-described illegal immigrant, for their participation on the Commission. Elias wrapped up his comments by stating, “This is the day that a little bit of democracy died in Pima County.”

Oh, the drama.

Supervisor Miller responded, taking umbrage with Chairman Elias’s misstatement of fact about appointment of members to the Commission. She further relayed that the Commission was used as a platform by the politically motivated to bash law enforcement non-stop. Supervisor Miller also reminded her fellow supervisors about a deputy, who was appointed to the Commission, resigned due to the anti-law enforcement rhetoric. Supervisor Miller stated her case clearly, “I withdrew my members from participation because it was used as a platform to attack law enforcement.”

Supervisor Christy offered his whole-heartedly support for the comments made by Supervisor Miller. He added, “The Sheriff and his department are on a co-equal basis with the Board of Supervisors and they are not to be controlled or dictated to by the Board of Supervisors.”

The democrat members who joined Supervisors Miller and Christy did not take exception to any of Supervisors Miller’s or Christy’s comments. They remained silent save the word “yes” when the roll call vote was conducted.

Citizens do have a responsibility to provide input and oversight to government agencies. This is normally championed through the elected officials responsible for the agency.


Listen to Supervisor Miller discuss the vote on the James T. Harris radio show

Recently, Sheriff Mark Napier announced the creation of a citizens advisory committee for the Sheriff’s Department with meetings scheduled to begin in January 2020.

Chairman Elias is no stranger to bigoted anti-law enforcement comments. During his tenure, he has made several derogatory comments towards law enforcement, specifically border patrol officers.


Chairman Richard Elias smears Border Patrol agents


Chris King demanding apology for Deputies


Chairman Elias Ejecting Angel Grandmother from boardroom

Related article: Pima County sheriff to select members of citizen advisory committee

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