Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Posse Just Lousy With ‘Bad Guys With Guns'

[phantom power]

I live in Maricopa county, and I've asked a few former cops about the "posse" (I'll never get over saying that). The response was always in the vein of: "oh, you see posse members are trained and vetted." Which always seemed a bit dubious since they don't get the same kind of training that police do. Looks like the "vetting" bit isn't so hot either.

Arpaio told ABC/Univision in December that it was not up for debate whether the schools had posse members posted outside.

“It doesn’t matter whether they like it or don’t,” he said. “I’m still going to do it. I can’t imagine criticism coming when they’re given free protection.”

Well, yeah! Who would object to free protection from volunteers who are no doubt carefully vetted and very responsible and definitely good people to be carrying firearms? Oh wait:

And then there was Jacob Cutler. According to a Flagstaff police report, Cutler threw his girlfriend to the ground and choked her while trying to sexually assault her in 2008. When she didn’t cooperate, he allegedly threatened to call police and said they would side with him, because he “has a badge.” He was a member of Arpaio’s posse at the time.

OK fine. He’s probably just a bad apple. Everyone ELSE at your kid’s school, marching around like a little tin soldier with a weapon, is no doubt totally cool. Wait. Shit.

Kevin Ray Campos was arrested in 2007 outside a Scottsdale club for disorderly conduct. According to the police report, he spit on several bouncers and then hurled profanities at a Scottsdale police officer. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, according to court records, and was hired as a posse member a year later.

Welp. That’s pretty bad. He’s probably the worst dude in the posse though, right? FUUCCCCCCCK.

And then there’s the accusation from 2007 that a driver backed into Clark’s car and then left the scene. Clark allegedly followed the car, rammed the vehicle and held the driver and passenger at gunpoint, all while he was off-duty.

Yet, Clark still remains in the posse.

Oh, also there is at least one person in the posse who was arrested for “sex crimes against children.”

http://wonkette.com/496384/sheriff-joe-arpaios-posse-just-lousy-with-bad-guys-with-guns

[Angry Dragon]

1. Joe needs to go

[phantom power]

2. I predict he'll die before he retires or gets voted out

His solar-system sized ego pretty much guarantees he'll never retire. I keep hoping he'll get voted out, but after his election in November, I'm dubious. Too many people here buy into his Maverick White Hat Cowboy schtick.