Sherriff Joe update.. CYA report to Board of Supervisors on the Honduran project. [View All]

[Joanne98]

What did the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors know about the MCSO's Honduras project and when did they know it? That's still an open question as the BOS's flack Deanne Poulos released documents Friday revealing the times that aid to Honduras was discussed before the Board of Supervisors. The first, dated October 17, 2007, deals with the acceptance of a $4,000 contribution from the Sheriff's Posse to the MCSO for "the Honduran Sister City project." (Talk about lending yourself money!) The second, dated January 16, 2008, mentions the donation of surplus computers to Honduras. The third and most significant is from February 4 of this year, a presentation made by the MCSO's Deputy Chief Mary Ellen Sheppard, Captain James Miller, and Captain Pat Lopez, all Sheriff's Office bigwigs who have traveled to Honduras to help train law enforcement down there.

The document, titled "Maricopa County Sheriff's Office & Honduras National Police: Partnership for Service and Justice," reads like a justification of the Honduran escapade, a CYA doc to soothe some wrinkled foreheads and raised eyebrows. According to PIO Poulos, it was submitted at an "informal meeting" for the Supes on 2/4/08. She further indicated in an e-mail, "This was not an action item, but a presentation only."

I received these docs while I was out of the office, and haven't been able to follow up with further questions. But I will. In the meantime, this bare-bones rationale for the Sheriff's Office having its own foreign policy is worth a read just to see how lame and misleading the MCSO is being about this project.

The thing starts with the sort of bull you'd expect from a Peace Corps pamphlet:

"Transnational cultural diversity is a reality for both agencies."

"With the sharing of cultures also comes the sharing of problems."

"The Honduran National Police wants to modernize and professionalize its police force."

Whew! What's next, a photo of David Hendershott and some Honduran cop making pottery together? The report reveals the stunning info that there are actually Hondurans who come to the U.S. illegally, and some of them end up being involved in crime! Shucks, really, Batman? Then the report-writers try this line that MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a Honduran gang. That's a Jabba the Hendershott-sized pant load. Yes, there are Hondurans involved in MS-13, but it's more strongly linked to the country of El Salvador, and it actually originated in Los Angeles. Don't take my word for it. Check out what the freakin' FBI has to say:

MS-13, which started in Los Angeles....Continued>>>>
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2008/03/the_sheriffs_offices_cya_repor.php