Sheriff requesting 7 deputies to battle smuggling
By Michael K. Rich
August 23, 2010

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is calling for the county board of supervisors to approve seven new sheriff's department positions to battle the escalating violence in Pinal County associated with illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

“Several years ago incidents of violence were mostly regulated to the border communities, but that is no longer the case as Pinal County’s residents are now some of the hardest hit by smuggling-related violence,â€