By Lindsey Collom | The Arizona Republic
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu has sent a written apology to county supervisors, saying he wanted to “correct the record” on misstatements he made about the audit of a money-losing contract to hold immigration detainees at the jail.
Babeu told a meeting of Republican precinct captains on Feb. 16 that County Manager Fritz Behring tampered with the audit and ordered staff to omit nearly $2million in annual jail revenue from the draft report. In a letter to supervisors Tuesday, Babeu acknowledged that the final version was identical to the draft and that he was misinformed by a subordinate, whom he has since punished.
Supervisor Steve Miller appreciated the gesture but said Babeu’s apology should have gone to Behring. Behring, however, said what’s more troubling is that the nearly $2million comes from a contract that has nothing to do with the jail.
