Pinal sheriff turns down security detail

FLORENCE, AZ - Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu says he will not request a personal security detail after receiving "credible" threats against his life.

Sheriff's officials say Babeu has been outspoken about the need to secure the border with Mexico and protect citizens from both drug smuggling and human trafficking.

According to a department statement, individuals have made threats against the sheriff's life because of his stance on the issue, threats that have been deemed "credible" by outside law enforcement agencies and forwarded to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office for action and other threats made directly against Babeu and his staff.

City officials were asked two weeks ago by Chief Deputy Steve Henry for funding so Babeu could be temporarily provided with a small security detail.

"Any threat against an elected official is serious and they usually come from upset citizens," Henry said. "We have information of additional threats from the Mexican Mafia and Drug Cartel members that are placing a 'green light' on our Sheriff. It is one thing to threaten an elected official, yet threats against the Sheriff by foreign born criminals raise this to a new level."

But Babeu said he would not request funding or reallocation of positions to provide for a security detail because of the county's already stretched budget.

"I understand this threat, yet I will not run in fear or change my support for SB1070 and my demands for President Obama to secure our border with 3,000 armed soldiers in Arizona and start building the fence again," Babeu said. "I'm always armed and as every law enforcement member knows, we always have to be aware of our surroundings and possible threats."