Deputies with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department have driven past Supervisor Ally Miller’s home nearly 50 times since she called 911 a week and half ago.
The department is trying to downplay the security checks, which have identified no suspicious activity.
Department officials note the patrols past her home are the lowest possible priority for deputies assigned to the nearest substation, with the drive-bys only performed during lulls in activity.
Miller is evoking the Jan. 8th shooting that left six people dead and injured another 13, including then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in defense of her decision to call 911.
Miller called the emergency line on Feb. 21 after learning a map disclosing her home address was published in an online news article. Elected officials addresses are public records, to ensure they live in their districts.
Miller demanded around-the-clock police protection and asked the dispatcher for help in getting the news article taken down. “I am very in fear for my life,” Miller told the dispatcher.
The article, printed a week and half ago in another publication, mentioned the street to illustrate how close Miller lived to a road project her office was successful in getting funded last year, at the expense of other road projects. A map included with the article showed where Miller lived.
Miller accused Supervisor Ramón Valadez of facilitating the news coverage, which she said was part of a coordinated campaign of intimidation.
Two weeks ago, Valadez and three other Supervisors voted to shift roughly $872,000 in road maintenance fund slated for District 1 to another project in Vail, which is part of District 4.
Miller told the dispatcher during her 911 call that her staff recently had a man forcibly removed from her office in the Pima County Administration Building, citing it as proof she was actively being threatened.
The Feb. 12 incident involved Bob Dorson, a District 1 resident and former furniture dealer who twice attempted to meet with either Miller or a member of her staff to see thousands of dollars of furniture and office purchases first detailed in the Arizona Daily Star.
District 1 staff members complained to building security that the 120-pound, 5 feet 6 inch tall septuagenarian was angry and aggressive, saying Dorson was verbally aggressive and shoved his hands in and out of his pockets while demanding a tour of her office.
An incident report with the Sheriff’s Department stated Dorson appeared to be angry and was frustrated with Miller’s staff, saying they refused to return his emails or his phone calls asking for an appointment.
When asked to leave the building, he complied without incident.
Dorson said he twice attempted to meet in person with any member of Miller’s staff, saying he was willing to wait in the lobby until someone was free.
He said he wanted more answers on some of Miller’s spending and was unsatisfied with a news release she had put out criticizing the media. He denies he acted in aggressive manner or that he raised his voice to any member of Miller’s staff.
The report filed with the Sheriff’s Department said the District 1 office would not have any further contact with Dorson.
Miller also complained she had been getting numerous phone calls at home and was going to have her number changed.
As of Monday morning, deputies have driven by or visited Miller’s home a total of 47 times.
The patrols will continue at least for the next few days, said Chris Nanos, the Chief Deputy Sheriff, until the department has a chance to re-evaluate the need for increased security. He said no suspicious activity has so far been observed.
Miller has also asked for deputies to attend a number of town halls she has scheduled this month, focusing primarily on the county’s $1.3 billion budget.
The type of service offered to Miller isn’t uncommon, noting it is also offered to those who are vacationing and want a deputy to drive by the house occasionally, Nanos said.
