Arizona Police Training Event Criticized Because Of Conspiracy Theorist

The inclusion of a conspiracy theorist with a perceived anti-Muslim bias among the instructors at a police training event is drawing criticism. The event - a three-day series of seminars sponsored by the Arizona Police Association - includes a class, Understanding and Investigating Jihadi Networks, taught by former FBI agent John Guandolo.

The Southern Poverty Law Center and The Council on American-Islamic Relations have both raised questions about Guandolo's credibility.

A report by the SPLC, which tracks extremist groups, highlighted some of Guandolo's claims including:

• Speaking at a Tennessee church in November 2011, Guandolo said local mosques were fronts for the Muslim Brotherhood. Of mosques in general, he said, “They do not have a First Amendment right to do anything.”
• Guandolo told WorldNetDaily on April 3, 2016, that the U.S. should arrest “all of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders in the U.S., shutting down their organizations and all Muslim Brotherhood mosques, which is 80% of them.”
• On Feb. 8, 2013, Guandolo told a radio show that John Brennan, who would soon be confirmed to head the CIA, had secretly converted to Islam and given terrorists access to top federal officials.

"Given the most recent demonstrably false and off-the-wall claims by Mr. Guandolo, coupled with his long history of Islamophobic conspiracy theories, this training should be canceled and future trainings should feature instructors who will offer accurate and objective information," CAIR wrote in a letter to the police association asking that they disinvite Guandolo.

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"No law enforcement officer should receive continuing education credit for such biased, counterproductive and inaccurate 'training.'"

According to Phoenix New Times - which first reported on Guandolo's involvement - the police association not only said they were keeping Guandolo on the agenda, they think that CAIR should be interrogated by the Maricopa County District Attorney.

"The APA respectfully declines to acquiesce to your proposition. However, we would like to explore your accusations during a full, complete sworn deposition here in Arizona," they wrote to CAIR in an email obtained by the paper. "Please voluntarily report to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office at 301 West Jefferson on TBD where law enforcement will conduct a complete and thorough interview."

The DA's Office tells the paper they have nothing to do with this, that the APA is not in a position to be asking people to head to the DA's office for interviews.

"Honestly, I’m not going to comment," Amanda Jacinoto, communications director for the office told the paper when asked if Bolton had the authority to speak on behalf of the department. "We’re not involved in this exchange and I’m not going to jump in."