The Stonegarden grant was rejected Tuesday afternoon in a 3-1 vote after an overwhelming response from the community addressed the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
Republican Steve Christy was the only Supervisor on the board who voted to retain the grant.
More than 50 people addressed the board Tuesday.
Those against the grant suggested the grant make deputies accomplices to controversial federal immigration policies.
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One woman against the grants argued, "It's bribe and an invitation to collaborate. Sheriff Napier, you won't make us collaborators." Adding, "what I don't understand is why we are talking about this again because we as a community have said that we don't cooperate with a government that is committing acts that go against our community standards."
Others say - they support the grant because it helps fund the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
"I can speak to Ajo specifically - this is a good grant because it helps law enforcement as a force multiplier," said one PCSD deputy.
Some of the Supervisors first challenged the $1.4 dollar grant in February which expires at the end of the year.
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Pima County Sheriff Napier disappointed with the outcome. Since February, Napier says PCSD has spent at least half a million.
The border security federal grant has been funding the Pima county sheriffs department for twelve years.
Napier says, "Whats troubling is we have purchased with Stonegarden funding now that we're no longer with the federal government - they can come back and say they want to equipment returned which is parts of our helicopter returned."
Napier says - the rejection will not change how PCSD keeps the public safe.
