Numerous Sheriff Joe Arpaio calls are being made by PLEA (Phoenix Law Enforcement Association) to Arizona voters with regard to the Maricopa County Sheriff Office race.

The caller (male voice) is stating:

• PLEA endorsed Arpaio
• There are two candidates running against Joe
• Phoenix Law Enforcement behind Arpaio (in fact, they would not even endorse their own former PD officer via Paul Penzone).

Some things John McCain “maverick” type of Republicans ought to consider as it relates to PLEA is:

PLEA is a union conducting collective bargaining, and in fact, it used to be governed by Mark Spencer who got into trouble for breaking police administrative rules with regard to booking people. His last 8 months with PLEA was as a union worker and not as a front line street officer. Mark Spencer was also a big supporter of Russell Pearce and was present when Pearce was cramming SB1070 to the Republican Party and Republican voters at a GOP executive guidance committee in 2009. It was at that meeting, when former registered Republican (now Independent) Mike Stauffer confronted Russell Pearce with regard to SB1070 and how it would negatively impact community and trust police officers have with local residents.

Mike Stauffer backed by front line police organizations in Arizona

Now we are here to set the record straight to inform the public with regard to independent candidate Mike Stauffer receiving an endorsement from one of the largest police organizations in Arizona via AZCOPS. We believe the largest police organization is the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Stauffer also received an endorsement by POSA, and both AZCOPS and POSA endorsements are important to the law enforcement community because both organizations come from leaders who are on the front line working the streets.

While it is true that PLEA endorsed Maricopa County Sheriff (R) Joe Arpaio instead of one of their own former police sergeants via (D) Penzone, Independent Candidate Mike Stauffer still received praise from front line level police members working the beat.

For those who don’t know about AZCOPS — they are the ones doing the job and on the street as line level members, and they are the ones who are behind Stauffer. Some more about AZCOPS below:

• AZCOPS is one of the largest police representative organizations in the State of Arizona
• 4000-5000 members (front line level members)
• 100 agencies represented