Email interview with Officer Paul Babeu of the CLEA (part 1 of 2)

Following on my recent post regarding the criticisms of the outgoing City Manager Pentz, as expressed by the Chandler Law Enforcement Association (CLEA) President Paul Babeu, I contacted Officer Babeu requesting an email interview.

Officer Babeu was kind enough to agree to this. I sent him eight questions and asked for his responses, with the agreement to post the questions and his responses on this blog for my readers to see. Officer Babeu responded to the first six questions very rapidly, within 48 hours. Below are my questions, followed by his responses below each question:

1. GG: I'd like to understand the extent and depth of the sentiments you have expressed in your recent comment on The Jake Files among others in the CLEA. Are you speaking as an individual or is there a broader sense among the CLEA Board or membership in support of your concerns regarding City Manager Pentz?

PB: I respectfully shared before the City Council, that all eight (8) CLEA Board members signed our very strong letter, explaining our reasons to move forward without additional confrontation...that Mr. Pentz's return would guarantee our city. Mr. Pentz's abuse of his public post is not acceptable to the Police Officers of Chandler and to should not be acceptable for the citizens we serve.

2. GG: Some supporters of City Manager Pentz have noted that few people came out to offer specific criticisms against him during his review. I have also read comments from people who attended the review that have stated they heard no compelling arguments against Pentz, notwithstanding your vocalized concerns. How would you respond to those comments?

PB: The review/survey that was summoned by the city, at Mr. Pentz's request was offered to his subordinate department heads and the leaders of all three
unions(Police, Fire and Labor&Trades/SEIU. Mark Pentz and his hired consultant said that every one gave glowing remarks of Pentz's leadership. This was false and misleading. All three Union leaders refused to fill out his fixed review, which was not confidential. As a Major in the US Army and as a Police Officer, I know that if you want to hear good things about yourself....just ask your immediate subordinates...and they will ensure that you are full of yourself. The review process was not confidential as promised and should not have included the subordinates of the rated person. Where in the world does a subordinate get to rate their supervisor??? What do we expect a subordinate to say when there is likely chance or belief that the supervisor will have access to the "confidential" survey?


3. GG: In this week's City Council meeting, it was reported that you submitted a letter to the Council. The reporting on this (found here) says that "Babeu handed over a letter that hinted the council should stop talking about hiring back Pentz after two of his detractors leave office in a few weeks." As this description of your letter is rather vague, could you elaborate on the contents of that letter and the intent behind it? Would it be possible to share with our readers the letter in question?

PB: Yes, please share the entire letter. We have been transparent in our motives and with all information. Our efforts have focused on improving Police Services for our citizens. We spoke Publicly for the need for more Patrol Officers and a faster response time than 6min 10seconds for our highest emergencies. Tempe boast under 5minutes for their response time and hire 2.03 Officers per 1,000 Tempe citizens. If Chandler provided the same support, we would have 200 more Police Officer in Chandler. CLEA asked for 30 new officers immediately and 30 more next year. The city manager's response to our public appeal was a threat to CLEA.

4. GG: I understand from that same article that you and CLEA "Vice President Cassandra Cockings urged the council to move on and stop fighting". What do you see as the most concretely constructive way for the Council to "move on" and address the present and future needs of law enforcement in Chandler?

PB: Too much negative energy is being expended by our leaders on internal fighting. Our leaders are some of of finest citizens with tremendous life experiences. They are all strong willed and opinionated leaders, as
we all expect from our elected officials. Imagine what the success which may be realized with all this energy, time and experience focused on Downtown Revitalization, Public Education, Public Safety, Economic Development and Build Out. Our Police Department is an excellent Law Enforcement Agency, yet we can be much better. It is false beliefs to simply believe that we are the best, simply because we support our local Police. We must benchmark the quality of service that is provided, by looking at what matters most to our citizens. How long does it take for a Police Officer to get to your emergency? Other concerns may be...Is our Police Dept. responding to Citizens concerns and high crime/problem neighborhoods? Are our Officers well training, professional and well equipped?

5. GG: How do you respond to Former Mayor Jim Patterson's reported comments at that event that the Council's "communication has been poor but recall isn't the answer", that "removing elected officials from office for their decisions is a bad move" and that "If you think that's a healing process, you've got to be nuts...It took us years to put that (1979 recall) behind us."

PB: CLEA agrees. This is wise advice from many civic leaders and former elected officials. Our elected officials are elected to make tough decision and this past decision to separate Mark Pentz was one of those decisions. If we thought this last month was bitter and destructive, wait for the next six month - if a recall effort becomes reality. I have written the three organizers of the recall effort and respectfully asked them to stop their effort and instead find ways to add value, by assisting in the healing of our city.

I appealed to our elected leaders to LEAD. Mayor Dunn and all council members should work to resolve their personal differences and past conflicts, in hopes of moving forward.

I have spoke with other citizens who have taken out the necessary paper work to recall Council Member Huggins for what they reported as "past criminal activity, which resulted his firing as a Chandler Police Sgt." I asked these citizens to also STOP this tit for tat and allow these heated emotions to settle some.

6. GG: What might be the impact, if any, of the recall of one or both of the Councilmen in question upon law enforcement in Chandler? Are there particular initiatives or effectiveness that might be compromised if either Councilman Sepulveda and/or Councilman Orlando are removed from office? Are there possible benefits to law enforcement to be gained from their ouster from the Council?

PB: Council Members Orlando and Sepulveda are great leaders, have deep roots and a proud history of service to our city. Both men are strong supporters of Chandler Police and we support them completely! We oppose the recall of any of our elected officials. We live in a Democracy and our leaders have always made tough decisions. We do not kill or recall one of our leaders, because we disagree with their decision making. Have some forgotten the selfless service of both of these men, who are senior military leaders? Council member Sepulveda just returned from Iraq and Orlando is a full Colonel in our AZ Air National Guard and is highly decorated as well.

I followed up these responses from Officer Babeu with an email requesting the text of the letter the CLEA presented and will post that as well as the final two Q&A from Officer Babeu when he sends them to me.

Officer Babeu, thank you again for your kind willingness to participate in this interview. Please feel free to add any further thoughts or clarifications in the comments, as you wish.