Cochise County, AZ where it's not just county sups trying to interfere with election certification we deal with

[Attilatheblond]

I don't have a lot of respect (well, ANY respect) for the local sheriff

https://cochiseregionalnews.substack.com/p/cochise-cronyism-part-2-influential?r=2aq166&triedRedirect=true]

Cochise County, with its 84 miles of international border and vocally MAGA-aligned sheriff, appears to be a nexus for unfolding cronyism and profiteering under this new Trump administration.

The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office recently received a million dollar federal taxpayer-funded grant-- at least a quarter of which appears to be earmarked largely for the travel expenses of Sheriff Mark Dannels, so that Dannels may spread the gospel of “standing united and border security.” This is an interesting expenditure of taxpayer dollars, given Dannels’ history of ties to far-right extremists and dubious border security claims [read more here and here].

Further, Dannels has seemingly used his public office and public law enforcement agency to undertake an advertising campaign for a private defense contractor. This campaign has not only benefited the profit-driven corporation in its quest to attain contracts under the reign of Trump, but has also likely enriched the corporation’s board members and others receiving equity compensation. Among this defense contractor’s board members is a Trump ally who served in a Project 2025 leadership position, and appears to have provided guidance to the Project 2025 Border Security Workgroup.

The Project 2025 Border Security Workgroup was an entity Dannels was also also involved with. This group worked throughout 2024 to shape policy and plans meant to implement Donald Trump’s mass deportation and other national security objectives.

I have personally seen this 'sheriff' hold up local police and border patrol who were rounding up some people arrested for illegally crossing (via US citizens driving 'load cars) in my neighborhood, with some of those people hopping my yard fence and passing thru my back yard. It was a HOT day. The police and BP guys had finished apprehending all the people the load car driver dumped in our 'hood during a police chase. The police & BP guys were professional, did not abuse anyone, and were hot and tired, panting in the 100 degree plus heat. Water was given to the detainees who were seated on a curb in what little shade there was available. Well, all but one detainee.

One skinny little young man was sitting on a different curb down the block, where there was no shade, and he was not cuffed. He was monitored by 4 BP agents, all hot and panting from the pursuit over several walls and thru several yards.
Why was he singled out and left un-cuffed but surrounded by BP agents? PR, baby, PR photo shoot!

See, it took a while for our Napoleonic sheriff to arrive for his local newspaper photo shoot, cuffing the dangerous exhausted 120 pound menace to society himself. The local magas ate that stunt up.

This twerp in a uniform is obviously looking for a career change, either public office or the more delicious appointment to a federal position that doesn't really involve any work beyond posing for pictures and stretching the truth to justify political agendas.

[Kali]

1. wow, it has been 15 years since Dever died

seems like it was just a couple years ago. a semi-normal old style republican. Dannels is of the new mutant maga version.

[Attilatheblond]

2. Originally ran as a DEM. He's an opportunistic windsock

full of hot air

[Kali]

3. I didn't remember that

good article on the grant and what for, though. thanks!