Paul Babeu

He was the first Republican Sheriff elected in the history of the county (founded in 1875).

Paul Raymond Babeu (pronounced BAB-you; born February 3, 1969) is an American law enforcement officer, politician and member of the Republican Party who was Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, from January 1, 2009, to January 1, 2017.

He was Pinal County's first Republican Sheriff.

Babeu was born on February 3, 1969, in North Adams, Massachusetts, to Raymond and Helen Babeu.

Raymond Babeu was a longtime employee of the area's electric utility who was also active in local politics.

Paul Babeu was the tenth of eleven children born into the family.

Babeu has spoken of being molested for several years as a child by at least two Catholic priests, including Richard R. Lavigne.

Babeu holds an associate degree in law enforcement from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy.

He also holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a summa cum laude master of public administration from American International College.

At age 17, while still in high school, Babeu campaigned against a proposed raise for North Adams, Massachusetts, City Council members.

The council reduced the pay hike and Babeu, running as an independent, turned his effort into a successful campaign and was elected to City Council at the age of 18.

In 1992, Babeu was elected to a four-year term as a Berkshire County, Massachusetts, commissioner.

At the end of this term in 1996, Babeu ran for a seat in the Massachusetts Senate based in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin.

He won the Republican nomination against Peter Abair.

He lost in the general election to Democrat Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. 55–42%.

In 1997, he ran for mayor of North Adams against incumbent Democrat John Barrett III.

In the open primary, Babeu ranked first but failed to reach the 50% threshold.

He led Barrett by just 145 votes.

In the general election, Barrett won re-election and defeated Babeu 53%-47%, a difference of just 353 votes, in an election with an unusually high turnout rate of 75% among registered voters.

Babeu served as headmaster and later as executive director the DeSisto School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, a school for troubled youths, from 1999 to 2001.

In 2001, Babeu ran for a rematch against Barrett, but lost again.

In 2002, he moved to Arizona to pursue a law enforcement career as a police officer for the city of Chandler, Arizona.

He graduated from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy as the #1 overall police recruit and was voted by his fellow officers as the class exemplary officer.

Babeu was awarded two Life Saving Medals in the performance of his duties as a patrolman in Chandler.

Babeu served as the Police Association president for the Chandler Police Department and on the board of directors for the Arizona Police Association.

The school closed in 2004, following the death of its founder Michael DeSisto.

The school was in a long legal fight with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over licensing, allegations of child abuse, a Commonwealth-imposed enrollment freeze, and accusations of failing to create a safe environment for its students.

Court records show that problems at the school arose years before Babeu took over as headmaster.

Babeu stated that he had never been the target of an investigation or lawsuit and "was recognized for helping restore financial stability of the school."

Babeu was not named in any allegation during the investigation by the state.

Babeu joined the Massachusetts National Guard as a 21-year-old.

He started his service as a private and rose through the ranks to major in the Arizona Army National Guard.

During his tenure he served a tour in Iraq and spent 17 months deployed in Arizona as a commander with Operation Jump Start (Southwest Border Mission).

From 2006 to 2007, Babeu spent 17 months as commander of Task Force Yuma supervising 700 soldiers, where they supported the United States Border Patrol to achieve operational control and reduce illegal immigration.

Babeu campaigned for the office of Pinal County Sheriff in 2008 and defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Vasquez, 54% to 46%.

Babeu retired in September 2010 after 20 years of service.

Babeu ran for Arizona's 4th congressional district in the 2012 elections to the United States House of Representatives but withdrew and came out as gay after a personal controversy.

Babeu was reelected in 2012 with 53.3% of the votes, winning out over Democrat and independent candidates.

He became the Republican nominee for Arizona's 1st congressional district in the 2016 elections after winning the primary on August 30, 2016.

He was defeated in the general election by Democrat Tom O'Halleran.