WILL THERE BE A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN?

I’m not long on the antics of most law enforcement officers and I’m certainly not impressed with their acrimonious, truculent and intimidating methods. However, one grit and guts lawman has not only grabbed my attention, but has enamored me with his tactics. Can he win his fifth election to be one of history’s longest reigning sheriffs? Is his methods inhumane or unnecessary? All I know is this. If I were a resident of Maricopa County, Sheriff Joe Arpaio would get my vote.

Liberal democrats have coerced, bought and garnered votes of minorities and criminals for as long as I can remember. I am happy to see one lawman treat a criminal like a criminal. He takes no guff and apologizes for nothing. From my research he has done nothing but enforce local, state and federal law to the letter. He is controversial and has come under attack for many of his programs and various issues, but let’s face it, if he were doing something illegal or illicit wouldn’t he be prosecuted? Or at least get booted out of office?

Sheriff Joe has reduced recidivism with his tough, sometimes draconian, and often educational methods. He is known for erecting and managing one of the nation’s largest “tent city” jails, chain gangs, banning smoking, pornographic magazines, movies, unrestricted television and a host of other luxuries so many felons enjoy across the country. Yes, he has even banned coffee. It was designed to reduce “coffee attacks” on correctional officers, and in conjunction with banning salt and pepper, it amounted to a taxpayer savings of $20,000 a year.

He has also instituted study and drug recovery programs for inmates. His school, “Hard Knocks High”, claims to be the only high school program approved in American jails. He mandated two-week English classes for non-English speaking inmates. The course covers the three branches of government, the process of bills becoming law, state government and law enforcement. To his critics he said this. “These inmates happen to be incarcerated in the United States of America and in Maricopa County where I run the jails. We speak English here, not foreign languages.”

In 2007, Sheriff Joe inaugurated a jailhouse radio station called KJOE. The station broadcasts four hours a day, five days a week, playing only classical music, opera, Frank Sinatra and educational programming.

He instituted chain gangs, not for punishment, but for what he calls “rehabilitation”. Male inmates wear black and white striped uniforms, work eight hours a day, six days a week and perform tasks such as creating fire breaks, removing trash and burying the deceased in the county cemetery. The female chain gang, that’s right, female chain gangs, work seven hours a day, six days a week. To his critics he responded. “I don’t believe in discrimination in my jail system. Crime knows no gender and neither should punishment.” Damn! I love this guy.

There have been a myriad of complaints and controversy. In “tent city” where the inmates live in tents that get up to 138° indoors and 116° outdoors, one resident, James Zanzo’t, recounted the experience like this. “It feels like you are in a furnace. It’s inhumane.” Of which, Sheriff Joe replied. “It’s 120° in Iraq and the soldiers are living in tents and they didn’t commit any crimes, so shut your mouths.” Did I mention I love this guy?

I could go on eternally with his accomplishments and criticisms, but let me share the last, my favorite.

In 1995 the controversial sheriff used canteen funds to buy Newt Gingrich’s ten-part video lectures with the intention of playing them in the inmates’ cells. When he was queried as to whether or not he would provide his astute viewers a lecture series by a Democrat he replied. “For one thing I don’t know of any, and some people might say these guys already got enough of those ideas.” Amen brother!

Lawman Joe Arpaio has enjoyed a lengthy tenure as sheriff of Maricopa County and with the upcoming election on September 2, 2008 I believe his good deeds shall afford him another term. Although controversial and often sardonically excoriated, he has won four elections with as much as 83% of the popular vote. Sheriff Joe is the type of lawman America needs, after all, he is known as “America’s Toughest Sheriff”.