Recently, Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy Ross Teeple claimed in an InMaricopa op-ed that I lack the experience necessary to be the sheriff of Pinal County. Since he brought it up, let’s compare our experience and qualifications side by side.
I have 12 years of command experience as a police chief and CEO of police agencies in three different organizations across Arizona and Texas. I’ve worked in municipal, tribal and county police agencies, including serving as deputy chief in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, which is the fourth-largest sheriff’s office in the country. I was also a commander with Phoenix Police Department, the fifth-largest agency in the U.S. Furthermore, I have experience preparing and presenting million-dollar budgets on behalf of my agency as a police chief.
Teeple, on the other hand, has no experience as a police chief or CEO of any organization, nor does he have any command experience. In his 17 years, he was only recently promoted to lieutenant.
I have served as the national president of a police executive organization, NOBLE, with over 4,000 members across the U.S., U.K., Virgin Islands and Africa. I’ve also been on the executive boards of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Arizona Chiefs of Police organization. In fact, I was the inaugural police chief of the Maricopa Police Department right here in Pinal County.
Teeple, by contrast, has no experience outside of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.
Throughout my career, I have documented leadership and chief experience in developing the careers of officers, deputies, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, commanders, majors, deputy chiefs and assistant chiefs. Some of the crime fighters I’ve mentored are now commanders, deputy chiefs and police chiefs in departments across the U.S.
Teeple has no documented leadership experience.
I also have experience negotiating salary raises and benefits for deputies and officers as a police chief.
Teeple has no documented experience in this area.
As a former police chief in Indian Country, I understand, support and respect Indian sovereignty, which is especially important given the multiple tribal communities in and around Pinal County. I’ve attended and received police chief executive training at the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Indian Police Academy in Artesia, N.M.
Teeple has no Indian Country experience.
In addition, I’ve completed police chief training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., and I’ve traveled the country by inspecting police agencies as an assessor with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Teeple has no executive police chief training.
With over 38 years of police service, I’ve been protecting and serving since I started at the Phoenix Police Academy in 1985.
Teeple, who was promoted to lieutenant by the current sheriff, has been a deputy since 2007—17 years.
Finally, Teeple prioritizes his partisan allegiance over serving and protecting the citizens. He’s tied to the Constitutional Sheriff’s Movement, which believes that sheriffs should write and interpret laws.
In contrast, I believe my responsibility is to enforce laws, not interpret them. Unlike the “constitutional sheriff” ideology, I don’t place myself above the law. I believe in accountability and being accountable to the people of Pinal County.
So, ladies and gentlemen, who’s truly qualified and experienced to be your sheriff? The choice is clear.
I’m Patrick Melvin, and I would be honored to protect and serve you as your sheriff.
Patrick Melvin, Cobblestone Farms
Democratic nominee for Pinal County sheriff
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