Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

PHOENIX (AP) - A statewide insurance pool that covers sheriff's volunteers in 11 counties is changing its policies to exclude the armed volunteer posse that Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu plans to deploy to scan the desert for smugglers.

Arizona Counties Insurance Pool executive director Bill Hardy tells the Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/TmLdZ8) the group doesn't think it's good risk management to put armed volunteers into the desert at night to participate in anti-smuggling efforts.

Babeu's spokesman tells the Republic that his posse is insured. But Henry says while that may have been accurate Tuesday, the agency's board is clear that it will be adopting langue excluding Pinal's anti-smuggling posse.

The insurance pool's board includes representatives from each member county. It does not include Maricopa, Pima, Yuma and Coconino counties, which are self-insured.

___