bjturk.commentary: is joe arpaio america's toughest sheriff?

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this bjturk.commentary:
is joe arpaio america's toughest sheriff?

Published not too long ago was a book called America's Toughest Sheriff, by Joe Arpaio with Les Brensen. Arpaio is the outspoken and often controversial Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff who has never shied away from publicity. To publish an autobiography with such a title may come off as arrogant to others in law enforcement, but "Sheriff Joe" has done plenty to merit consideration for the title.

Since taking office, Arpaio has been faced with many duties and responsibilities that have either come from the state or he has taken on himself. Along with these, he has been forced to deal with budget crises as well. Here are just some of the events and projects that have caused him to be called "America's Toughest Sheriff":

The return of chain gangs: Prisoners are required to work while chained together, performing tasks such as picking up trash along highways, weeding prison gardens or digging graves in the county's cemetery for the indigent. No longer are there county inmates doing work outside the jail unshackled. The criminals in jails and prisons are a useful workforce, and fortunately, Arpaio is doing something with these people instead of letting them sit on their butts doing nothing. Even women serve on chain gangs, and all chain-gang personnel are volunteers.

Tent jails: Due to overcrowding, tents have been set up rather than releasing criminals early. While the tents can be hot in the summer, they are kept as comfortable as reasonably possible. The criminals have protested, as has the ACLU, but inmates are entitled to food, water and shelter. Comfort is not a part of that. Jail is not supposed to be pleasant.

No more hot lunches: Due to budget constraints, hot lunches have been eliminated in favor of sack lunches of bologna sandwiches and the like. This creative cost-cutting move alone saves tens of thousands of dollars a year. The inmates and the ACLU have protested this as well, but the courts have thus far failed to find bologna sandwiches to be "cruel and unusual punishment."

Suing the hand that feeds you (poorly): Sheriff Arpaio filed suit against the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors over a budget dispute. Arpaio claimed that the Board was negligent in budgeting adequate funds for him to perform his statutory duties under the law. The suit was settled when the Board agreed to additional funding.

Theft reduction: Due to theft of jail-issued underclothes, all Maricopa County Jail inmates are issued pink boxers and socks, and soon will be issued black/white-striped uniforms. This move brought about great rending of clothes and gnashing of teeth by the ACLU and inmates alike. Oh, the humiliation! As an offshoot, the pink britches became extremely popular as souvenirs among the public. Sensing a marketing bonanza, Arpaio began selling "official" pink boxers in local stores complete with Arpaio's signature and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office logo for $10 a pair, with proceeds going to support MCSO programs. They were a hit, selling very well in local stores.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse: Arpaio launched this force of mostly unarmed semi-civilians to expand his ability to provide law enforcement without costing the county a lot of money. Posse members are trained in the law, and some in weapons as well, and agree to spend a given amount of time per month working with the Posse. The Posse has patrolled shopping mall parking lots at Christmastime to reduce auto thefts, performed prostitution roundups in Phoenix, and has been involved in DUI and drug enforcement. This move has not only enhanced law enforcement but has been quite cost-effective as well.

Sheriff Arpaio has been criticized as a prima donna and a publicity hound by his detractors. What they really don't like about him is that he is very good at his job, takes crap from no one, and is extremely popular with a public fed up at the coddling of prisoners in our penal systems. Is he "America's Toughest Sheriff?" Maybe so. In some ways, Sheriff Arpaio calls to mind another man from history who really was a prima donna and a publicity hound, took a lot of heat from his critics, was particularly effective at his job, took crap from no one, and was quite popular with the public. Could it be that Sheriff Arpaio is but following the trail blazed by General George S. Patton, Jr. fifty years ago?

Think about it.

* * * * * UPDATE * * * * *

After many years and many misadventures by Arpaio's department, I've had a significant change of heart. Read about it here.

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