Panel supports dropping sheriff's protection in Guadalupe

A report released Wednesday night by the Guadalupe Public Safety Committee describes sheriff's deputies as disinterested in protecting the town.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has repeatedly defended his deputies as responsive and inexpensive.

The panel says its findings are largely based on residents' opinions about how well the sheriff's office has served Guadalupe.

Ultimately, the committee says the town should re-establish its own police department.

But in the near term, the Town Council should contract with the Department of Public Safety or Phoenix police.

Arpaio notified Guadalupe town officials his agency was terminating its contract and will pull its deputies out in October.