Paul Penzone on Sheriff Run: ‘I am not in Favor of Politics Influencing Law Enforcement Leadership’

By: Cindy G. Castillo

“For those who believe it’s difficult to vote for a person who is not in a [political] party where they feel most comfortable, I just ask that they recognize a person like myself who’s been a law enforcement person versus my opponent who’s highly engaged in politics and determine which one’s best for their family and their safety.”

That’s the challenge Paul Penzone is bringing on to voters as he moves forward with his candidacy for Maricopa County Sheriff.

The retired Phoenix police officer confirmed his run back in April, which would mean a second attempted run to unseat Joe Arpaio in the next election. His last run in 2012 was a close one, losing to Arpaio by only six percentage points in what was the second closest election in Arpaio’s 23 years in office.

This year, Penzone says “it’s time” for a change, and is feeling confident about his chances.

“We’re very well positioned for success,” he said. “I expect to be just me versus the Sheriff. [Last time], we learned that this community is ready to move forward with someone who is more about serving their needs and keeping the community safe. In order to achieve this, we just need a very small percent of the population that didn’t vote last time, to change and support my position.”

Therefore, Penzone’s campaign has dived right into community outreach from day one, focusing on the part of the population who he says have been supportive of Arpaio and his methods for a very long time. He is challenging every voter to go out and review his career before heading into the polls.

With more than two decades of experience as a Phoenix police officer, Penzone has been able to achieve national and international recognition for his leadership in crime prevention, capture of dangerous criminals and dismantling of drug trafficking organizations. Since his retirement, Paul has served as a top law-enforcement and security expert, and has dedicated his time to various community organizations.

“My track record speaks to my commitment and my ability,” he explained, “I would ask that they open their minds to the possibilities of a future with a new sheriff with new ideas and a greater commitment because this is my community and someone who believes that it is a priority to be fiscally responsible with tax payer dollars and how they are implemented with the best interest of law enforcement and our operations. We cannot be wasteful.”

Penzone is sharing a strong message for those who’ve been supportive of Sheriff Arpaio in the past, reassuring them that it’s ok to move forward with someone that’s committed to his own community in making sure that criminals are off the streets and doing so with “efficiency, professionalism and integrity.” He added that the relationship that the community has had with the sheriff for such a long time has become “comfortable,” “unhealthy” and “counterproductive.”

If elected as Maricopa County’s next sheriff, Penzone said some of his first endeavors will revolve around restoring the trust of an entire community.

“The most important first step is to address this issue regarding federal monitoring within the sheriff’s office,” he explained, “regardless of anyone’s beliefs, it is never acceptable to violate anyone’s civil rights during the course of your duties; it is lazy policing, and there are far more effective ways for us to address serious issues such as human trafficking, abuse of our children and other areas that have been neglected.”

As Sheriff, Paul has also said he’ll work to make Maricopa County the safest community in America, demanding accountability at the top, practicing results-based policing and eliminating wasteful spending to put more deputies on the streets.

To learn more about Paul Penzone and his campaign, please visit penzone2016.com