AJ Sex Offender Numbers Vary
80 to 103 live in city, police say
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The number of convicted sex offenders living in Apache Junction fluctuates, with current numbers sitting at 80 to 103, according to the Apache Junction Police Department.
   “There’s no real rhyme or reason as to why it fluctuates,” said Capt. Tom Kelly of the AJPD. “Some of it can be, too, because of the winter visitors—not that we have a lot of winter visitors who are sex offenders. We have some who come from other states.
   “Our community is very mobile. Now, as the season as ending for the winter visitors, those numbers could change by those numbers leaving.”
   Kelly said the police department keeps a running tab on certain people, but 99 percent of the sex offenders in the community have been “very compliant.”
   “They cooperate with investigators,” he said. “We’re lucky enough to maintain where they’re at.”
  Sex offenders are ranked according to their threat to the community, from Level 0 to Level 3, with the third being the most serious. The public is notified when Level 2 or 3 offenders move into their area.

See A-1 and see Sex Offenders, A-5

R.E. Eck Bloodwork Returned
Vice mayor’s lawyer says medications are at ‘therapeutic levels’
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has analyzed a blood specimen drawn from Vice Mayor R.E. Eck shortly after an October 2, 2009 road rage incident and Eck’s lawyer said the levels of medication in his system are therapeutic.
   The analysis of the specimen, which was provided to the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon News via the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, shows 140 nanograms per milliliter of diazepam (also known as Valium), 355 nanograms per milliliter of nordiazepam (Stilny or Calmday) and traces of zolpidem (Ambien). The specimen was labeled “BERMUDA, EIGHT.”
   Eck said only that “I’m very happy to be moving forward with this case.” He referred all questions to his attorney, James Tinker.
   “That’s my understanding” that the levels were therapeutic, Tinker said. “The tox results that came back (consistent) with the medications that Mr. Eck was prescribed (for Fibromyalgia). He was taking them as prescribed and they were within therapeutic range.”
   Whether or not the levels were within the theraputic range could not be varified independently.
 Tinker said that Pinal County must decide what to do with their findings. The sheriff’s office did not comment further on the matter.
   “The county will make some decision about what to do with the tox results, in the hopes they will act appropriately,” Tinker said. “I’m sure they will.”

Council Honors Police Auxiliary Program
Cost savings to City $174,996
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Apache Junction City Council honored the Apache Junction Police Department’s Auxiliary Program during its Tuesday, April 20, meeting by designating April 18-24 “National Volunteer Week.”
   AJPD Community Resource Coordinator Suzanne Strong followed the tribute with a presentation about the program, which saves the City $174,996.
   During her 15-minute PowerPoint presentation, Strong described the AJPD’s different departments and the role each has in the department.
   Animal Control boasts 17 volunteers. Their duties include: front desk assistance, Animal Control officer assistance, pickup/delivery of dog food, photographer/website manager and customer assistance for adoption. The number of hours volunteered was 1,703 between July 1, 2009, and April 1, 2010, with an estimated savings to the City of $35,499.
   Victim Services has 13 volunteers who help officers with victims, assist with children of victims or suspects, transport victims and provide needed information for recovery. They are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Victim Services volunteers, who worked 6,678 on and 703 active duty since July 1, 2009, saved the City $14,647.

See A-1 and see Police, A-8

Champ Camp
The Apache Trail HS Wolfpack football team, 2009 AzCAA “Class B” State Champions, along with special guest, Arizona Cardinals running back Jason Wright, conducted their Champ Camp on April 17 at Prospector Park for 57 camp participants.