Thread: Guadalupe contacts other police services

Guadalupe contacts other police services
Dianna M. Náñez
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 26, 2008 12:00 AM

With the clock ticking on Sheriff Joe Arpaio's October deadline for pulling the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office out of Guadalupe, town officials are scrambling to secure police services for the small community.

Guadalupe Mayor Rebecca Jimenez said she has contacted Tempe, Phoenix and several other Valley cities to discuss a Guadalupe police contract.

After Jimenez's blowout with Arpaio over an April crime sweep, Guadalupe has been looking for an alternative to the Sheriff's Office for safety. advertisement




Jimenez called Arpaio's sweeps an excuse to target Hispanics and undocumented immigrants. Arpaio said he was protecting the public when he flooded the primarily Native American and Hispanic town of about 5,500 residents with a crime patrol.

The sweeps erupted in a backlash of protests and deteriorated into a public spat between Jimenez and Arpaio. Both officials had said they wanted to end the Guadalupe/Sheriff's Office contract, and Arpaio proclaimed he was ending the estimated $1.2 million contract and the town had six months to find new policing.

Jimenez would not elaborate on the list of cities Guadalupe is contacting for fear of jeopardizing contract negotiations but a June 17memo from Tempe City Manager Charlie Meyer confirms a request from Guadalupe. According to the memo, Jimenez wrote a recent letter to Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman asking that the neighboring leaders meet to "explore how law-enforcement services are provided" in Guadalupe. Mesa Police Department officials also acknowledged Guadalupe contacted Mesa.

Jimenez acknowledged she has met with Phoenix officials and confirmed her letter to Tempe. She said Guadalupe reached out to Tempe because of its proximity and because of mutual connections. Tempe already provides Guadalupe with water services and back-up fire services.

Hallman said the cities' relationship is strong but added that the issue boils down to the Tempe police having the capability to offer services.





http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... e0626.html

There is considerable opposition to the mayor from other members of the Guadalupe city council

Guadalupe City Council
Mayor Rebecca Jimenez, Vice Mayor Roy Perez, Council members: Lupita
Avelar, Margarita Garcia, Patricia Jimenez, Frankie Montiel, Alma
Yolanda "Yoly" Solarez

Rebecca_Jimenez@guadalupeaz.org Roy_Perez@guadalupeaz.org
Lupita_Avelar@guadalupeaz.org Margie.Garcia723@yahoo.com
patty_jimenez@guadalupeaz.org azbaseballathlete@yahoo.com