We don't often think of sheriffs and police as particularly wealthy people. They have a tough job and most get a decent middle class salary. But there are a few cases that buck that trend.
Take Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio as an example.
A first generation American born of Italian immigrant parents, he went into the army at 18, spending time as an MP. After discharge, Arpaio moved to Washington, DC where he worked his way up in the federal drug enforcement agencies. He ended that phase of his career as the head of the DEA's Arizona branch in 1982, retiring a year after being sued by a DEA investigator for racial and gender discrimination.
In a surprising twist, when Arpaio left the DEA he took on the role of salesman for his wife's business Starworld Travel Agency.
While there, he sold passage on the Phoenix E space rocket, which was hoped to take off from either Edwards Air Force Base or Vandenberg Air Force Base on the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to the new world. Although he claimed in 1988 that the first 19 flights of the Phoenix E were booked, no flights were ever made.
In 1992 Arpaio went back into law enforcement, running for and winning the office of Maricopa County Sheriff for the first of six terms. During that time he has earned up to the current salary of just over $100,000 per year. While higher than average leo salaries, it is not extravagant for the head of law enforcement for a county including a city the size of Phoenix.
As many know, Arpaio's time at the helm of Maricopa County law enforcement has not been without controversy. Currently facing contempt of court charges for ignoring court orders, Arpaio has cost Maricopa County tens of million dollars in lawsuits. On top of lawsuits, he has used public funds to pay private investigators to perform opposition research on the family of the judge trying his case (and tried to use that as an excuse to remove the judge from the trial), as well as public funds to pay for a reality tv show starring.... Sheriff Joe.
The cost of his leadership has now pushed Maricopa County to restrict which Arpaio court cases will be covered by public funds. To cover the cost of his unsanctioned legal battles, Arpaio is now soliciting money from his supporters. That is ironic in light of the fact that he has a net worth in the millions, and has purchased real estate with cash totaling nearly a million dollars.
I hope his supporters don't make the mistake of funding another reality TV show starring Joe.
Thu Sep 17, 2015 at 6:54 AM PT: Wow, I'm honored to be on the community spotlight. Thanks, I love this community and hope to be able to repay the years of lurking with useful diaries and comments.