Dick Godbehere is a native Arizonan and businessman with a Navy background. He also has a police background in Tempe and with Arizona State University. Godbehere tried to establish a career path for detention officers and was sheriff during the major personnel expansion involving the opening of Madison Street Jail and Southeast Jail. He initiated daily command staff meetings, created a Planning and Research Division, increased training for canine services, brought back motorcycles and expanded communications including the 9-1-1 system.

Godbehere unsuccessfully sued local newspapers who were critical of several controversial arrests.

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