Al Sharpton was in town day or so ago. Not really in my town but in Phoenix, a couple of hundred miles from my dwelling. Speaking at a civil rights forum, he expressed his opinion, something he does around the clock and around the country. That’s what he, as an activist, does.

This time he praised Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Huh? How can this be? Perhaps it wasn’t the real Al but his evil twin. According to the real Al, nobody - I repeat with emphasis - nobody in their right mind would praise Sheriff Joe, the man with a reputation as America’s toughest sheriff.

Well, really it was the real Al. The rub of Al’s praise is that he didn’t praise Mr. Arpaio at all. According to Al:

… when the sheriff is out of town, Arizona is about as equal as everyone else when it comes to civil rights. Read

Out of town, HA!
You have to read very carefully what Al, that tricky guy, says. Sure, Al meant that comment as criticism but I have something to say that supports both Al and the good sheriff.

Sheriff Arpaio has jurisdiction over all of Maricopa county, a county that according to Wikipedia has:

• A population of 3,954,598, fourth among the nation's counties,

• A population greater than the population of 24 states,

• A land area more than 9,000 square miles,

• 13 cities and part of another city,

• 10 towns and part of another town,

• 5 Census-designated places, and

• 17 other communities. Read

That’s a lot of space to cover and a lot of people to serve. Having lived in Maricopa county from 1988 to 2007, I know Maricopa county has a continuous illegal alien population. From news reports, I have learned the illegals keep Mr. Arpaio busy. And, answering his critics keeps the sheriff busy as well.

Love that Joe
In spite of outsiders ragging on the man, Sheriff Arpaio has the support of Maricopa county voters. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be serving his fifth term each of four years. Will he go for a sixth? Haven’t heard but even at age 80 in 2012 he might. I won’t be surprised either way. I suspect that if he goes for a sixth term, the voters will give their support. How can a law-abiding citizen not vote for Sheriff Joe, a real man who does not suffer fools? Only those in his snare can complain and, if what I read is true, they have cause. The way the sheriff goes about his business is OK with me.

Hate that Joe
The old boy does have his detractors, for sure. One doesn’t have to look very long to find a handful. I laugh at most of what his detractors say and discard all. As an Arpaio fan, I’m sure not going to give his detractors my thumbs-up. However, I will point the reader to a recent New York Times article since it references the Goldwater Institute, an organization whose reports I value although I don‘t like what they write this time. Read

Speaking well for both Al and Joe
Up in the fourth paragraph, I mentioned I have something to say that supports both Al Sharpton and Joe Arpaio. When Sharpton says Arizona is about as equal as everyone else when it comes to civil rights when Sheriff Joe is out of town, I have to say I agree.

The sheriff has to be out of town to do his job. After all, he has responsibility for enforcing the law in the 21st largest county in the country, when measured by land area.

Yes, he needs to get out of town to do his job well. Is that what you mean Al?

Read Sheriff Joe Arpaio's biography at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office website.