The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) named Paul Babeu, Sheriff of Pinal County, Ariz., the 2011 Ferris E. Lucas Award for Sheriff of the Year. The award is given in memory of Ferris E. Lucas, NSA past president and executive director, who completed 50 years of distinguished service and leadership in law enforcement.
In 2008, Sheriff Paul Babeu won his first term in a landslide election over the incumbent sheriff. Since being elected as the Pinal County Sheriff, he has become one of the most progressive sheriffs in the country. His stance and actions against those responsible for drug and human trafficking has earned him the distinction as one of America’s toughest on illegal immigration. In his term, Babeu has cut reponse times in half, secured millions in grant funding, established a regional SWAT, traffic and narcotics task force, and organized citizen patrol and alert networks.
To read Editor-in-Chief Dale Stockton’s interview with Babeu, visit www.LawOfficer.com and keyword search “war at home.”
