“My fiance is serving time (5 days!) at 4th ave and Madison for failing to complete DUI classes. While I agree that this should have been taken care of, he made a mistake because hes HUMAN, and he is by no means a criminal. Does he deserve to be treated like a murder and made to suffer just because he made a mistake?”

Aimee,
Your quote above really weakens your case. Your fiance’ IS a criminal, Aimee, because he a) got a DUI and b) failed to comply with a court mandate. And while you may want to believe otherwise, he is not being treated “like a murderer” when incarcerated, per the law, for a mere five days. I thought DUI offenders had to serve longer than five days, but I’m not much of a drinker, so I don’t know what the current laws are. Five days seems pretty short compared to other states. Arpaio is enforcing the DUI law (he is not the author of that law), and your boyfriend chose to break the DUI law. I’m glad he started (but then screwed up royally when he blew off finishing) his DUI classes, but I want him and others like him off the street, endangering other people’s lives by driving while drunk. They are menaces and present life-threatening danger to other innocent people. They could indeed kill someone by choosing to drink and drive. Saying they made a mistake is true of all criminals… they made mistakes when choosing to ignore the law. So, no sympathy here.

I live in Arizona, and have for more than three decades. I also correspond with many soldiers in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. They, too, endure great heat in heavy combat gear while fighting for freedom. I have worked with youth in the heat here, and as a former Girl Scout leader, have attended outdoor training workshops in Phoenix during the summer months. No sympathy here for “Tent City” inmates. They aren’t standing out in the direct sun all day, but have shade and ample water. How do you think early Arizona settlers and Native Americans survived here before air conditioning, for heaven sake? The prisoners who complain the loudest tend to be the ones who believe they are entitled to the most comforts, despite their crimes. This is not “inhumane,” but solves a housing problem and cuts costs to taxpayers. I know you don’t agree, but thousands of other Arizona citizens do.

The entire budget of Arizona and most states are in the red. Blaming Arpaio for being out of budget while not acknowledging we’re in a national recession (many states are bankrupt) is short-sighted and selective. Sheriff Joe IS frugal in cutting out a huge amount of unnecessary amenities for prisoners. Is the tank you’re referring to the SWAT tank that we’ve had for a few years now? If so, then I disagree with you… in the duties of law enforcement, there are occasions where a SWAT tank would be a desired, necessary tool to safety-guard Arizona citizens. I don’t know how much it cost, but since you can’t usually buy a SWAT tank “on sale,” I’m guessing it was a line-item in the budget for the year it was bought. I don’t know much about it, but I have no problem with Maricopa County having it, and any other weapons they have for keeping citizens in Maricopa County protected from bad guys. Most large counties have an impressive arsenal of weapons, and our county is huge. Weapons are not cheap – I was looking at hand guns online this weekend, and the average quality handgun costs more than $400. Many are over a thousand dollars. For one handgun. I don’t think any thinking person would suggest that our county should compromise its security to save a few bucks by buying outdated or third-world country weapons. So, yes, I do believe Arpaio is frugal where possible and where necessary. Cutting out coffee and saving money on meals permits more money to be available for tools that you can’t get for cheap.

Arpaio arrests illegal aliens and other lawbreakers. Being in this country illegally is against the law. Of course most Hispanics are not illegal. Arizona has a hefty percentage of citizens who are of Latino descent and most of those citizens are law-abiding people who contribute to society; I know many Hispanics who were born here or entered the country LEGALLY. Many officers in Arpaio’s team are Hispanic. Sadly, a huge number who are arrested ARE illegal aliens. Suggesting that we not arrest and incarcerate criminals because of the punishment, as you put it, “the Universe and God” will hand down is naive and rather silly. And dangerous. To the best of my knowledge, no one in the jail system is being malnourished nor mistreated per the law (unless they defy the rules of the jail, and even with investigations conducted by Phil Gordon/La Raza and Gordon’s request for Federal investigation, Arpaio has yet to be found guilty of any critical state violation). The four Washington DC officials who are spearheading the investigation of Arpaio were enlisted by Gordon, are all four Democrats, and NONE live in Arizona. La Raza is one of the forces behind the multiple lawsuits. Rev. Al Sharpton was here for a few days to give media interviews and to videotape the deputies in the performance of their duties, but then scurried to Los Angeles when Michael Jackson died. Death of a pop star vs. alleged racial improprieties… Sharpton has his priorities. I see this as a witch hunt of Arpaio.

You’re entitled to your speculations about the Norberg case, which was tragic, but not evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Arpaio. If indeed evidence, not second-guessing, witch-hunting, or speculation, proves he was responsible for that man’s death, I will change my opinion. However, at this time, nothing exists to prove your allegations. You called Arpaio a man who “condones murder.” That’s inflammatory, slanderous, and without proof, but then you see fit to defend your boyfriend who was found guilty of driving while intoxicated. Your emotions are affecting your judgment, Aimee.

I know Arpaio is controversial (I’ve written that), but at this time, while I may wince at some of his interviews, I am glad he is our sheriff. Phoenix crime has dropped, although Mayor Gordon says he has “no idea” why. I think the answer is obvious: no one wants to do time in Phoenix because of Arpaio’s commitment and tenacity as a law enforcer.

You obviously are upset with Arpaio, and I’m guessing it is because of your fiance’s DUI mess. There are consequences to his law-breaking actions and Arpaio and the city/Maricopa County court systems are enforcing those laws. Holding the sheriff responsible for the bad judgment on the part of your boyfriend is indicative of the validity of the rest of your attacks. In other words, your boyfriend brought this upon himself, but you’re blaming the sheriff for his DUI than the person who is actually responsible but you’re excusing: your boyfriend.

Not only that, but he is also currently being investigated by The Department of Justice for racial discrimination (Not all mexicans are illegals! But he doesnt care.), and has had his national health accreditation DENIED TWICE because of the deplorable conditions he forces inmates to live in. My fiance is serving time (5 days!) at 4th ave and Madison for failing to complete DUI classes. While I agree that this should have been taken care of, he made a mistake because hes HUMAN, and he is by no means a criminal. Does he deserve to be treated like a murder and made to suffer just because he made a mistake? You people dont live in Arizona. You have NO IDEA how hot it gets here. 115 is a good day for us. Forcing people to stay outside in that kind of heat can EASILY result in bodily damage and even death.

Arpaio is a criminal and the things he does are despicable, and constitute cruel and unusual punishment. We treat our PRISONERS OF WAR under the Geneva Convention BETTER than Arpaio treats his inmates.

As for the Scott Norberg case, the reason they did not let that go to trial is because AMPLE EVIDENCE was found that crucial pieces of evidence were purposely DESTROYED by Arpaio’s men. Several autopsy x-rays went missing, Scotts name was intentionally deleted from the x-ray records book, and his LARYNX somehow went missing as well. Hm, its awful funny how the pieces of evidence that would have damned Arpaio somehow ended up missing. Also, the video clearly shows Officer Gurney dragging an obviously confused and disoriented Scott to his feet and placing him in a RESTRAINING CHAIR where he is obviously of NO THREAT to anyone, and then FOURTEEN GUARDS SAVAGELY BEAT THE BOUND MAN TO DEATH! The insurance company did not let this trial go to court because they knew the jury would side with Norberg, and not Arpaio. Maybe YOU should look up your facts before condemning someone else for not knowing theirs. O, a little extra tid-bit: When reporters questioned Arpaio on the actions of his men, he stated he believed they “had done nothing wrong”. Apparently the Sheriff of our fair county condones murder.

I think human indifference from people like you is the reason this world is filled with nothing but hate. You people think of nothing but yourselves and your gain, and just because someone is marked with the world “criminal” they are no longer human. Sure, denying PRIVILEGES (such as smoking, cable tv, workout equipment and such) should be taken away. They no longer deserve them. But there is no one in this world that has the right to take away their basic human RIGHTS to live healthily, no matter what they’ve done. The punishments that the Universe and God will hand down to these people will be far worse than what Arpaio will do to them, and until the time that GOD sees fit (NOT Arpaio) these people need to be treated as such: PEOPLE!! Saying things like “they deserve to be treated this way” makes you just as cold, callous and heartless as Sheriff Joke. How anyone can support a man like this is beyond me.

And you are calling all the county jails in Airzona? Yah, right. this whole post sounds very suspicious ot me. Why in the heck are you calling jails all the time? Are you friends with a lot of lawbreakers? Dating a bunch? I’m rolling my eyes about now. And if you have a driver license from this “unnamed country” of yours that doesn’t issue addresses on licenses, because the post office can deliver based on a description?? NO ADDRESSES??? then if you have lived here for more than 10 days, you need to get something with your address on it to legally drive a car. Or are you using this other country’s license? What country are you even talking about?

If eveything you say is true then Sheriff Joe would be out of a job. It would be in the newspaper (and don’t say the media would cover it up – LOL. They NEVER cover up something this juicy). I’m all for him cutting back on food costs – it’s my money that’s paying for it. When they investigated him last year, they found he does nothign wrong. There is a lawsuit right now in Oregon against the law enforcement for 17 million. There have not been 77 deaths that Arapio was responsible for – where did you get that number? The Scott Norberg case was not a trial award, but was, in fact, a settlement. Sheriff Arpaio wanted to take that particular case to court, but the INSURANCE COMPANY decided to settle the claim. The reason? A few weeks prior, an agency in CA lost a suit and was ordered to pay $44 million. The insurance company got scared, and because 8 million is a pittance compared to 44, guess what happened? Joe was not responsible for his death, but he was forced to settle.

You’re making up numbers because you don’t like Sheriff Joe. Get your facts straight

This whole nonsense entitling illegals, who often break law after law with no consequence, is the result of elites imposing their policies on the 70% who want this crap to stop.

Thanks
Pett

http://cantor.uopine.com/2009/03/19/i-am-a-legal-immigrant-and-i-am-offended/

I’m happy that my Justice Department is going after criminal behavior of all stripes.