I ask that because, after almost 20 years in our midst, his time as sheriff may soon be coming to an end.
How could someone retain his office who’s cost county taxpayers millions, whose office has been on the losing end of so many lawsuits, whose deputies have arrested law-abiding citizens in an attempt to intimidate them, who has conspired with a disgraced county attorney to drum up phony indictments against public officials, who has neglected to investigate hundreds of sexual assaults, and who now faces possible federal civil lawsuits as a result of the Department of Justice investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office?
Oh, and who might soon face criminal indictments arising from a separate DOJ investigation?
Why have Maricopa County voters repeatedly returned him to office? Why have so many public officials, including many prominent East Valley politicians, eagerly sought the endorsement of the Sheriff many believe to be a bullying, corrupt demagogue?
In other words, how did Joe happen?
The answer’s complex. But it involves public relations, the federal government, the economy and the media. Oh, and cowardice.
Let’s deal with the most obvious first, Arpaio’s PR machine — at one time was a fairly large, and expensive, part of his office. Whomever in charge of that office knew how to get the Sheriff into the papers and on TV, whether it was Tent City, pink underwear, chain gangs or his tank.
And the local media? They ate it up. He was “Sheriff Joe,” the “Toughest Sheriff in America.” They would show up and report every one of his stunts. But when Arpaio’s behavior became a little less “Oh, that’s just Joe,” and more “Oh, no, that’s Joe,” much of the local media was tardy to reporting the more dangerous behavior of the MCSO. Still today, you can listen to some local talking heads defend Arpaio, though not quite so vociferously as in the past.
Two other factors combined to give Arpaio the kind of carte blanche he’s had over the last several years: the economy and the federal government.
When the economy faltered and thousands in Arizona lost their jobs, and homes the illegal immigrants suddenly became villains. In part, there was truth to that label: At the very least, illegal immigrants drove down the pay legal residents received for jobs they competed for. And the costs to education and health care were very real, too. So when we started to suffer here, the illegal immigrants were a good target for our frustration. At the same time, the federal government had done little to improve border security. The Bush Administration only reluctantly sent a few National Guardsmen to the border.
So Arpaio turned his attention to arresting illegal immigrants. Why? Good question. Only he really knows. But we do know that his “crime suppression” sweeps were popular, even when they resulted in few arrests. Or worse, resulted in arrests of legal residents. And had no real effect on crime. And took deputies away from other duties. And led to hundreds of sexual assault cases uninvestigated. And revealed that many of us would look the other way when Latinos were discriminated against. Nevertheless, Arpaio was seen as one of the few Arizona public officials protecting us from the “illegal invasion.”
So his PR machine, a mostly-fawning media, and the horrible economy and weak border enforcement all combined to create Joe Arpaio. But there was another factor, too.
Cowardice.
Public official and media types had known for years that the MCSO was careening out of control. And yet, hardly a peep from them. Newspapers continued to endorse his candidacy, TV anchors continued to joke with him on news shows, talk radio hosts would deify him in interviews. Worse, politicians either continued to support him or suddenly went quiet about him. Very few had the political courage to stare Arpaio down. The cowardly silence of so many for so long helped create the environment Arpaio thrived in.
So here we are today — once again in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons, once again facing federal lawsuits and millions more in legal costs, once again having to face the sad fact that we might have tolerated his serial malfeasance because it was “them” and not “us” who had to suffer.
And when the this history of Maricopa County is written, his shame will be our shame.
Mike McClellan is a Gilbert resident and former English teacher at Dobson High School in Mesa.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:01 am on Wed, Dec 21, 2011.
"How did Sheriff Joe happen...?"........because of people (let's not call them citizens...let's not cheapen that term) who have no regard or respect for American Citizenship. They do not believe in American Value of Patriotism. They do not honor the sacrifice of the million or more American Military Heroes who have given their lives since the Founding of America to protect America from invasion (anyone who would tell you that the 20,000,000 citizens of foreign Countries who have come into the USA illegally is not an "invasion" is nuts). Today, right now, 120,000 American Military Heroes are protecting the Afghanistan border from invasion. There will be hundreds and hundreds of empty places at Christmas tables all across the Nation this year because America is protecting the sovereignty of Afghanistan.
Sheriff Joe and his deputies are "protecting" Maricopa County's borders by arresting foreign criminals who are in our Country "ILLEGALLY". These foreigners are not "immigrants". An immigrant is defined as a foreign national who is becoming a citizen of another country through "LEGAL" means.
What do you call someone who comes into your home, not as a guest, but by crawling through a window in the dead of night, uninvited...you would call them a trespasser..which is a crime.
God Bless Sheriff Joe and his deputies and staff for all the hard work that they do to arrest foreign national "CRIMINALS" and sending them back to their Country that they came from. They are not taking "rights" away from anybody. No one has a "right" to be a criminal.
As for the people who support this criminal activity, this "INVASION OF AMERICA" that costs the American People...hundreds of billions in Social Security fraud, Welfare fraud, Food Stamp fraud, stolen identities, stolen cars and trucks, home invasions, rapes, assaults, child abuse, arson, Forest fires, stolen jobs, billions in Medical costs and billions in Education costs...............YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL AND RETAKE...."AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 101".......SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON YOU.
God Bless the Maricopa County and the Pinal County Sheriffs and their wonderful Deputies and Staff this Christmas and all year long. All of you are American Heroes.
chuckles3 posted at 9:42 am on Wed, Dec 21, 2011.
No surprise the same DOJ that ignored civil rights violations(voter intimidation) by one protected group(Black Panthers) would find MCSO violating civil rights of another protected group(illegals). Its all about justice and laws, not politics, right? right?
queenslaby posted at 9:32 am on Wed, Dec 21, 2011.
so much for our "innocent until proven guilty" law we have forgotten about. I don't believe any reports out of Washington, especially the DOJ dept!. And after reading about 203 arrests and $20M found in drugs & cash... from the sting on Mexican Cartel.... I encourage any checking of ANYONE no matter the color of their skin, if it will help curb the problems this State and country are experiencing. I for one have NO problem being stopped at any time.... I have nothing to fear... I am an honest, law abiding citizen.
Almacaz posted at 9:28 pm on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
Send in the 'Clowns' to finally impeact him. Sentence him to tent city in pink underwear. Let him experience the abuse he infected on those who were 'Just waiting'for trial and who died at his 'hands' and cost Maricopa County millions due to his abuse !
Lived in Arizona over 45 years and moved to Oregon, partly because of the stupid voters who relected 'Joe' ,the abuse that was ongoing and not stopped by Maricopa County. What an example of the voters and citizens not doing their duty to prevent ABUSE of rights and incourage EGO to it's highest degree!!!!!
Rich posted at 7:34 pm on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
"The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents.-
Salvador Dali."
Accuracy posted at 2:50 pm on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
“Open Border” supporters are upset that a series of immigration crackdowns have turned Sheriff Joe Arpaio into a prominent national political figure.
Even a scathing U.S. Justice Department report released accuses Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office of racially profiling… a blatant pattern of discrimination against Latinos illegal immigrants from Mexico.
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider Arizona’s illegal immigration law and decide if there is any systematic disregard for the Constitution.
CooperG posted at 11:22 am on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
Apparently, "Accuracy" and other Arpaio supporters support waste, fraud, abuse, murder, assault, political vendettas, lies, distortions, racial profiling, nearly a quarter billion dollars in costs to the taxpayers and all because they share with Arpaio a hatred and distrust of brown people and a lack of understanding that the "rule of law" and the Constitution applies to everyone, including the Sheriff.
Arpaio has no one on Earth to blame for his problems other than himself.
Think about it. If Arpaio would not have violated three Amendments to the Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and the Violent Crime Control and Enforcement Act of 1994, he would still have 287(g) authority. His losing that authority is HIS fault. No one else but Joe Arpaio. But he's not honest enough to admit it. He says the voters of Maricopa County are his bosses, and while that's true, the Constitution and the laws of the land are his employment manual.
All of this isn't news. There are dozens of reports that go back to 1996 that show this pattern of abuse and incompetence from Arpaio and the MCSO. Just look at the Tribune's Pultizer Prize winning series for the facts. McClellan's exactly right that enough is enough. It's time for a sheriff who doesn't spit in the face of the law or on people's rights. It's time to put competence and substance over politics and bluster.
It's time for Joe to go.
cecelia48 posted at 4:19 am on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
Wow, finally, someone tells it like it really is. Mr McClellan, you have done us a great service. All anyone has to remember is what happened to Phoenix council members and the mayor to see why we have been afraid to confront this monster. I pray that justice will be served and he will be removed from office. Thank you.
Dale Whiting posted at 1:24 am on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
Mike,
I'd say your summary of the past 18 years is right on. Arpaio is sold on one and only one thing, Joe Arpaio. In his own life, he's bigger than life. Remember when everyone running for office sought his endorsement? His supporters worship the very ground upon which he has walked. His detractors were usually made to suffer for critisizing him. Power corrupts and aboslute power corrumpts absolutely. If ever they was a case for term limitations, Joe's our man!
Some ask, "And your recipe for success is?" ABJ, anyone but Joe. It's gotten to his head and there is no cure but to send him into retirement. Of course he will not resign! After all, he is Joe Arpaio, the toughest Sheriff in the west! The only question is "Will we recall him now or wait until 2012 to send him packing?"
Either way, he's toast!
bobunf,
You've hit pay dirt, too. If someone wants to be elected to an office, find a cause to inspire fear, unreasonable, unwarranted, irrational fear in the hearts of men and women, and champion "the cure" and you've won. For Joe Apario, the DEA man, it was Mexican immigrants. For "W" it was al Qaeda. Remember when "W" closed air space, except for that Saudi jet which rounded up some of the richest people in the land and let them escape? "W" also pronounced that "we are not at war with Islam." Well he was not and rightly so. But enough of us were, so he had to leap out front and wage war somewhere.
After getting much wrong in Afghanistan, "W" shifted his focus to Iraq. After all Sadam was about to loose the noose around his neck, the lifting of UN sanctions for selling crude oil. So he invented weapons of mass distruction and links that never existed [and would not have existed] between Sadam and bin Laden [bin Laden hated Sadam!]
So, if any of you out there are considering becoming the next Karl Rove, bobnuf has your ticket!
Accuracy, looks like on this topic your out numbered and out gunned!
Rich, it would be entertaining, perhaps amusing and even humorous if the consequences weren't so great!
Richardoville, for those of us who got to know Sheriff Joe during those few times in public when he let his guard down, none of us voted for his re-election, ever!
bobunf posted at 8:31 pm on Mon, Dec 19, 2011.
Very well written Mike and very accurate.
I might add anther point of view. Over 2400 years ago Thucydides described a similar phenomenon: "The real cause I consider to be the one which was formally most kept out of sight. The growth of the power of Athens and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedamon."
He might have said about our current descent into corrupt xenophobia and bigotry: "The real cause I consider to be the one which was formally most kept out of sight. The growth of the power of the Latinos and the alarm which this inspired in Anglo community."
Rich posted at 7:20 pm on Mon, Dec 19, 2011.
McClellan: How did 'Joe Arpaio' happen?
All of this is 'old news'. The rapes aren't new, they were reported years ago. Arpaio has been the clown prince of law enforcement for over a decade. People have mentioned that he is a great reality T.V. star, but the crime stats reveal that he is a very bad sheriff. As to 'how' he happened, well, how did Jan Brewer or Barak Obama happen? Good people don't run for political office, if they took it seriously the stress would kill them. We vote for the lesser of two evils, and have been doing it for so long all that is available to vote for is an evil. Government is too large and too powerful, on all levels. It is bureaucratized into impotency and attracts only bottom feeders. I don't think Joe is the worst of them, and he is, at least, entertaining.
ezsun posted at 6:45 pm on Mon, Dec 19, 2011.
Mr. Meclellan, you have said in all in a nutshell! The same could be said about
Russell Pearse and some could be refered to Jan Brewer. These three
persons have done our great state only shame. Our great country was built by
98% immigrants, this U.S. Southwest was spanish, than Mexican territories that
were stolen, and now, we have this uneducated rascist culture that believes
that people of color have no right to be here. Let everyone here that believes they
have more right to be here than everybody else, let me just inform you,
YOUR FAMILY IMMIGRATED HERE, CHECK YOUR ROOTS! Native American
are the only people that can come close to be the originals, and even they,
are'nt 100%. What we need to do, is to rid ourselves of this rascist and hatefull
culture, especially politicians that are elected to serve and represent us that take
the rascist stands we have recently witness here in Az..Remember it's," WE THE
PEOPLE, UNDER GOD" Lets all reflect on each other and decide to live in PEACE,
the day of judgement is not as far as you may think! Thank you Mr. McClellan very
well put!
culture that has infected this nation.
Accuracy posted at 6:24 pm on Mon, Dec 19, 2011.
Mike McClellan wrote: “And when the this history of Maricopa County is written, his shame will be our shame.”
Because, Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s decision to enforce Arizona’s SB 1070 law earned him powerful, implacable enemies in the Democratic Party, among them Thomas Perez and Eric Holder.
The Liberal Democrat party is lecturing one tough sheriff that he’s doing his job too well and deporting too many potential Democratic voters.
Bob G posted at 6:04 pm on Mon, Dec 19, 2011.
Astute, fair and well written. Sheriff Joe has become the J Edgar Hoover of Maricopa County.
Richardoville posted at 5:37 pm on Mon, Dec 19, 2011.
While I like much of what he has done and stood for, I didn't vote for him the past 2 elections largely because his machine is too dirty, too big and I'm tired of seeing his name above the organization he was elected to head. He appears about done as his many slimeball underlings have let him down. So, who's gonna replace him? I hope it's someone with Joe's authoritative demeanor coupled with a manageable ego, lack of lusting for the limelight and other good qualities Joe has lacked for decades.
samkat posted at 4:48 pm on Mon, Dec 19, 2011.
And your recipe for success is?