"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer
Carefree Truth
Issue #844, July 27, 2020
Issue #844, July 27, 2020
During Call to the Public at the July 7th meeting, Linda Rawles asked if she could speak live. Mayor Les Peterson noted that she had sent a prepared email statement for Kandace to read.
From: Linda Rawles
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2020 5:14 PM
To: Kandace French
Subject: comment
Hello. I first wish to say that we should be able to speak. Here is my comment: the traffic on my road is worse and worse, and I am seeing a reduction in stops by our police. There is no noise enforcement. There is no mask enforcement. While I defend police to my friends who back defunding, I am wondering why we pay the MCSO when there is no enforcement? People on the councils of both towns tell me there is little enthusiasm from the current police to enforce anything. So, again, I ask: Why don’t we get photo radar and maybe our own police department? I am losing patience, ladies and gentlemen, and I am not alone.
Linda Rawles
Vice Mayor John Crane noted that hers was the only Call to the Public comment and felt she should be allowed to comment live. Below are Mrs. Rawles live comments.
Mrs. Rawles was upset to be silenced in this way when it is easy to speak on Zoom. She thanked Vice Mayor Crane for insisting on fairness. She vowed to speak every month until something was done about the dangerous situation on her road. Quite a few months had passed. She knew there were other issues, but nothing had happened. It was getting worse and worse. She said she is not the only one who feels this way.
As the Covid crisis continues, people come up for a drive in our beautiful area, which she understood. But there are greater crowds going faster and faster along her road. The speed limit is not being enforced. Fewer and fewer stops are being made. The noise Ordinance is not enforced. The speed limit is not enforced. The mask order is not enforced. She had talked to people on both the Carefree and the Cave Creek Councils. They say they can't get the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) to do this or do that.
MCSO is very nice, and they say they will do something, but nothing changes. She has been a BLM protester but is not in favor of defunding the police. She told her Left wing friends how silly that is when we don't live in an anarchist society. But she wondered why we pay MCSO when we're not getting anything for it. She felt we would be better off with a constable and photo radar. She was frustrated and hoping for a solution before everything opens up again and Bike Week returns. She asked if it was time to think about getting our own police department.
https://vimeo.com/436329874
During Current Events, Mayor Peterson introduced the new MCSO Captain, Henry Brandimarte. He noted that Vice Mayor Crane, Councilman Vince D'Aliesio, and he met with Capt. Brandimarte. They had a good, candid discussion with him, and look forward to meeting with him again. The Mayor provided some information about District 4, in which Carefree is located. District 4 runs north to the Yavapai County line, south to Indian School Road, east to 136th Street, and west to I-17. #4 is the busiest district in the overall beats. He asked the Captain to present an overview of the overall priorities of MCSO and the District 4 issues and priorities, and how we can work together.
Captain Brandimarte said there are a lot of issues facing law enforcement currently that are a challenge. Covid is a big driver of the activities. Traffic numbers are down. MCSO has tried a number of different ways of conducting traffic stops to make the motorists feel safe. They wore masks and gloves. People got upset about the masks and gloves. They stopped wearing them and got complaints about transmitting the virus. They started wearing gloves again but took the masks off. They had people put their identification in plastic bags. It seemed that nothing made the public feel safe about the virus transmission. It is the same everywhere. The #1 complaint is traffic, so he could appreciate the comments and concerns about the lack of traffic enforcement, and the traffic stop numbers are down. It is his responsibility to get them back up while maintaining safety. These are circumstances they have never dealt with before.
MCSO covers a fairly large part of the county, geographically speaking. They serve 3 distinct communities, and the residential areas of New River, Desert Hills, Anthem, Cave Creek, and Carefree. Carefree and Cave Creek are contract towns, so MCSO has contractual obligations, but it is also a balance. Despite criticisms, they do honor their contractual obligations. Staffing is available and they do respond to calls for service.
There are 4 deputies and a supervisor who work this area, and 3 full time detectives are assigned to the Carefree/Cave Creek area. This is an unprecedented time for law enforcement and it is, quite frankly, a challenge.
Mayor Peterson explained that this was a combination of Call to the Public (Mrs. Rawles) and Current Events (Captain Brandimarte). These items are a one way conversation and can't be addressed by the Council at this meeting. But if any members of the Council or the public have questions or comments, they can be submitted in writing and it will be put on the agenda for a future meeting, in an effort to mutually resolve the issues expressed. The Town of Carefree has a very long and positive history with MCSO. It would be beneficial to both to move forward. The Mayor thanked Captain Brandimarte for presenting and the Captain thanked the Mayor and Council for inviting him to present.
Vice Mayor Crane reminded everyone that the next Council meeting would be held on August 11th, due to the primary election being held on the first Tuesday of the month. Councilman Mike Krahe added that Kandace was sending out a notice to that effect.
https://vimeo.com/436546961
Lyn Hitchon
(Lyn's note: Detective Horwath sent his information for us to publish, and said he would be happy to answer any questions you might have.)Detective Steve Horath #759
37622 N. Cave Creek Road
Cave Creek, Arizona 85331
Office (602) 876-1742
Desk (602) 876-7332
Fax (602) 876-3687
email S_Horath@MCSO.maricopa.gov
Cell Phone 602-339-8199
I can make it to most any meetings of the town to address complaints of the community. I can also share details of what the community can do to protect themselves and how to be a good witness. How to be aware of the surroundings and how bad guys think. This may help with some of the tensions and the misperceptions some have about what we do and can do.
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
From: Linda Rawles
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2020 5:14 PM
To: Kandace French
Subject: comment
Hello. I first wish to say that we should be able to speak. Here is my comment: the traffic on my road is worse and worse, and I am seeing a reduction in stops by our police. There is no noise enforcement. There is no mask enforcement. While I defend police to my friends who back defunding, I am wondering why we pay the MCSO when there is no enforcement? People on the councils of both towns tell me there is little enthusiasm from the current police to enforce anything. So, again, I ask: Why don’t we get photo radar and maybe our own police department? I am losing patience, ladies and gentlemen, and I am not alone.
Linda Rawles
Vice Mayor John Crane noted that hers was the only Call to the Public comment and felt she should be allowed to comment live. Below are Mrs. Rawles live comments.
Mrs. Rawles was upset to be silenced in this way when it is easy to speak on Zoom. She thanked Vice Mayor Crane for insisting on fairness. She vowed to speak every month until something was done about the dangerous situation on her road. Quite a few months had passed. She knew there were other issues, but nothing had happened. It was getting worse and worse. She said she is not the only one who feels this way.
As the Covid crisis continues, people come up for a drive in our beautiful area, which she understood. But there are greater crowds going faster and faster along her road. The speed limit is not being enforced. Fewer and fewer stops are being made. The noise Ordinance is not enforced. The speed limit is not enforced. The mask order is not enforced. She had talked to people on both the Carefree and the Cave Creek Councils. They say they can't get the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) to do this or do that.
MCSO is very nice, and they say they will do something, but nothing changes. She has been a BLM protester but is not in favor of defunding the police. She told her Left wing friends how silly that is when we don't live in an anarchist society. But she wondered why we pay MCSO when we're not getting anything for it. She felt we would be better off with a constable and photo radar. She was frustrated and hoping for a solution before everything opens up again and Bike Week returns. She asked if it was time to think about getting our own police department.
https://vimeo.com/436329874
During Current Events, Mayor Peterson introduced the new MCSO Captain, Henry Brandimarte. He noted that Vice Mayor Crane, Councilman Vince D'Aliesio, and he met with Capt. Brandimarte. They had a good, candid discussion with him, and look forward to meeting with him again. The Mayor provided some information about District 4, in which Carefree is located. District 4 runs north to the Yavapai County line, south to Indian School Road, east to 136th Street, and west to I-17. #4 is the busiest district in the overall beats. He asked the Captain to present an overview of the overall priorities of MCSO and the District 4 issues and priorities, and how we can work together.
Captain Brandimarte said there are a lot of issues facing law enforcement currently that are a challenge. Covid is a big driver of the activities. Traffic numbers are down. MCSO has tried a number of different ways of conducting traffic stops to make the motorists feel safe. They wore masks and gloves. People got upset about the masks and gloves. They stopped wearing them and got complaints about transmitting the virus. They started wearing gloves again but took the masks off. They had people put their identification in plastic bags. It seemed that nothing made the public feel safe about the virus transmission. It is the same everywhere. The #1 complaint is traffic, so he could appreciate the comments and concerns about the lack of traffic enforcement, and the traffic stop numbers are down. It is his responsibility to get them back up while maintaining safety. These are circumstances they have never dealt with before.
MCSO covers a fairly large part of the county, geographically speaking. They serve 3 distinct communities, and the residential areas of New River, Desert Hills, Anthem, Cave Creek, and Carefree. Carefree and Cave Creek are contract towns, so MCSO has contractual obligations, but it is also a balance. Despite criticisms, they do honor their contractual obligations. Staffing is available and they do respond to calls for service.
There are 4 deputies and a supervisor who work this area, and 3 full time detectives are assigned to the Carefree/Cave Creek area. This is an unprecedented time for law enforcement and it is, quite frankly, a challenge.
Mayor Peterson explained that this was a combination of Call to the Public (Mrs. Rawles) and Current Events (Captain Brandimarte). These items are a one way conversation and can't be addressed by the Council at this meeting. But if any members of the Council or the public have questions or comments, they can be submitted in writing and it will be put on the agenda for a future meeting, in an effort to mutually resolve the issues expressed. The Town of Carefree has a very long and positive history with MCSO. It would be beneficial to both to move forward. The Mayor thanked Captain Brandimarte for presenting and the Captain thanked the Mayor and Council for inviting him to present.
Vice Mayor Crane reminded everyone that the next Council meeting would be held on August 11th, due to the primary election being held on the first Tuesday of the month. Councilman Mike Krahe added that Kandace was sending out a notice to that effect.
https://vimeo.com/436546961
Lyn Hitchon
(Lyn's note: Detective Horwath sent his information for us to publish, and said he would be happy to answer any questions you might have.)Detective Steve Horath #759
37622 N. Cave Creek Road
Cave Creek, Arizona 85331
Office (602) 876-1742
Desk (602) 876-7332
Fax (602) 876-3687
email S_Horath@MCSO.maricopa.gov
Cell Phone 602-339-8199
I can make it to most any meetings of the town to address complaints of the community. I can also share details of what the community can do to protect themselves and how to be a good witness. How to be aware of the surroundings and how bad guys think. This may help with some of the tensions and the misperceptions some have about what we do and can do.
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.