AJ Narrows Search For Police Chief
List of candidates down to three finalists
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Three finalists remain from the original slate of 76 law enforcement professionals being considered for the position of Apache Junction Chief of Police
   The trio of finalists, in alphabetical order; Charles “Chuck” Baker, Randy Bratton and Jerald “Jerry” Monahan, were introduced at a public meet-and-greet event held in the courtyard of the city complex last Tuesday, April 22, 2008.
   Charles “Chuck” Baker, 52, has 28 years of municipal law enforcement experience and currently serves as Division Commander of the Commerce City Police Department in Commerce City Colorado; a suburb of Denver with a population of 45,000.
  Baker is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, associate member of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police and is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). He has a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice/Executive Leadership from the University of Colorado at Denver and a Bachelor’s Degree in addition to an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science.
   Baker said he visits Arizona nearly every year and is familiar with the area. He said he visited Apache Junction last month and believes it is a great place to live and that it offers a great opportunity for him to run a department that is comparable in size and with many similarities to Commerce City.
   Baker said he is prepared for the difficulties that he may face in the position of chief and actually welcomes a departmental audit. “I’m not going in blindly,” said Baker, “I understand there are some challenges.” He said he has been through a management audit in the past and believes an audit provides a new baseline for an incoming chief.
   Baker is married and has a thirteen-year-old son and three daughters ages 24 (married), 11 and 9.

See A-1 and see Police Chief, A-5

Man Robbed In Wal-Mart Lot
Suspects apprehended thanks to alert Mesa detectives
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Three suspects in an armed robbery in the parking lot of the Apache Junction Wal-Mart were apprehended last week thanks to alert Mesa Police Department (MPD) detectives.
   Two undercover MPD detectives were surveilling the Wal- Mart parking lot at 2555 W. Apache Trail in an unrelated investigation around 3:37 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 when they reportedly saw an individual running from a Black Chevy Cobalt seemingly in need of assistance.
   A white male, later identified as Charles Despain, 22, of Tempe, was allegedly seen standing on the side of the car along with a female, later identified as Heather Tomlinson, 22, of Mesa who was reportedly attempting to place a bag over the license plate of the vehicle.
   Mesa detectives observed the man and woman getting into the vehicle, in which a third person was seen occupying the back seat. The person riding in the rear seat was later identified as Steve Baker, 31, of Tempe.
   The Mesa detectives followed the suspect vehicle south on Delaware Drive, during which time the driver allegedly committed a variety of traffic violations. The detectives initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and detained the suspects after confirming the Wal-Mart incident.
   The suspects reportedly had taken the victim’s property and tried to force him into their vehicle at gun point, however; the victim was able to escape.
   The Apache Junction Police Department (AJPD) was contacted and the Criminal Investigation Division found probable cause to arrest the individuals who were booked into the Pinal County Jail in Florence on various charges of Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Kidnapping, Prohibited Possession of Weapon and Possession of Dangerous Drugs
   According to AJPD authorities the majority of the victim’s property was recovered.

High School Hires New Principal
James Denton of Tempe will assume duties on July 1, 2008
By Meghan McCoy
APACHE JUNCTION— The Apache Junction Unified School District (AJUSD) voted unanimously to appoint James T. Denton as the new Apache Junction High School (AJHS) principal at a special meeting held on Friday, April 25, 2008. Denton is the associate superintendent of the Tempe Union High School District.
   Denton will assume his duties as principal on July 1, 2008, the start of the district’s new fiscal year, and will take over the reigns from Interim Principal Mark Blomgren who has been serving as interim principal since former Principal Marla Zimmerman resigned on February 9 of this year.
   The AJUSD began soliciting qualified applicants for the principal position in mid-February, according to spokesperson Carol Shepherd. Once they received a pool of applicants, a selection committee of 18 people was formed, which included two students, two parents, nine teachers, three classified personnel, the director of human resources and the AJHS interim principle.
   The applicants included four out-of-state candidates, three in-state candidates and one candidate from the AJUSD. The applicants were then narrowed down to two remaining finalists, James T. Denton and Thunder Mountain Middle School Principal Dr. Russell Sgro. Superintendent Dr. Greg Wyman then conducted final interviews before making his recommendation to the governing board.
   Denton received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Arizona State University. He began his education career as a social studies teacher first at McClintock and later at Corona del Sol high schools in Tempe. He served as assistant principal for six years at Corona del Sol High School, which has a student body of 2,700 students, before becoming the principal.

See A-1 and see Principal, A-3

Lady Prospectors Drop Two To McClintock
By Chuck Baker
The News
Nineteen wins on the season, a runner-up finish in a pre-season tournament held in Texas and a winning record in the Desert Sky Region. But despite all that they have accomplished in their first softball season at the 4A-I level, the Lady Prospector varsity squad still has some unfinished business to attend to – landing a spot in the 4A-I State Tournament.
   Needing one more victory to possibly secure a post season playoff berth, Apache Junction didn’t get it last week, falling twice to Tempe McClintock by the scores of 9-4 and 7-1.
  The losses leaves the Lady Prospectors with a 19-12 overall record and a 6-4 record in region games with a seasonending home-and-away series against Scottsdale Chaparral today and Tuesday.
   Apache Junction needs to finish the season as one of the top sixteen teams in 4A-I based on power point rankings, which does not factor in tournament games played this season. As of last Saturday, the Lady Prospectors, listed at 9-7 overall, were number fourteen.
   The easiest way for Apache Junction to secure a post season berth would be to pick up a win or two against Chaparral this week. But that may easier said than done.

See C-1 and see Track, C-2