Joe Arpaio Opponent Mike Stauffer to Run For Sheriff as an Independent

• Do you people really think this is about Republican or Democrat? Do you really think that only Republicans are against illegal immigration?  So what you are saying is ALL democrats are against enforcing the law?  I know a hell of alot of democrats who support Joe.  You guys have drank the Obama KoolAid, buying into the crap he spews about Republicans, Evil Rich people.  I am from CA, and that place is now an armpit because it's run by  Libtards who do not enforce federal immigration laws, and act just like your beloved president...ignorant and inept.  How can a police Lieutenant be against enforcing the damn law?  I don't care if it's federal or state law, Arpaio and Pearce are enforcing federal laws that your president refuses to do.  That is Treason on his part, and Arpaio and Pearce are the only two with the cahonies to step up and defend the constitution.  Have any of you read that ? Rather than go on and on about a label you stuck on yourself of Independant or Republican, why don't you tell us what you are going to do better or different than Arpaio.  Independant tells us nothing.  Republican is just as meaningless.  All politicians are criminals, so why dont you concentrate on law enforcement matters.  Sounds real fishy to me making this about party affiliation...and such an emphasis on it.

• GO SHERIFF JOE

• Hurray for Joe! I'm donating to him today and he can thank you losers who trash him. He's the best!!

• " Calling Deputies who work for MCSO racist and Nazi is expected from the leftist propagandists, it is not tolerable from the Mayor of the 6th largest City in the Nation." Evidence has already been published in the media that prove there are racist cops in the mcso. The cartoons, that if I recall correctly, were at one time accessed here. I also know people that confirm that the proliferation of the same sort of racist material continues through email. So it is no longer "propaganda" by leftists, it is stone cold hard fact and it doesnt appear that anything has been done to change the situation or remove such cops since it still continues. The fact that Gordon reiterated that racist cops are in the mcso is restating fact but I know hoe facts often can get in the way of how those in the "family" perceive reality. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together is going to see through your denials and haughty indignation and it only fuels the fire that the once but no longer "family" members criticisms are most likely hitting the nail on the head.

• I am not a fan of Arpaio, and I hope Stauffer can step his game up and do this right.  You are blinded by your ignorance.

• Though some points I made were based on generalizations, but i do point out that they do not apply to all and I also included a specific situation that epitomized my cause for concern. I am not just a "cop hater", in early grade school I wanted to be a cop, even had a nieghbor who had only daughters and was a LA county sheriff who befriended me and taught me quite a bit about what being a honest cop entailed. I then embarked on my adolsescent forays into marine biology, snorkling/scuba diving (with an avid interest in becoming a deep sea diver) and eventually a college prep course leading me towards a degree in forestry with the hopes of becoming a forest ranger. At the last minute after spending a year a half finishing highschool, holding down two full time jobs, I had a choice of staying home, buying a car and going to community college but decided on moving here and pursuing a computer programming education. This decision was an eye opener esp. When I would return home and realize how little my peers changed and how much I had by being exposed to a whole new city and experiences and people from all over the usa that ended up here because of school or chance. I have come to the conclusion that the problems of law enforcement are deeply ingrained and the likes of arpaio and apparently all those in leadership that follow his lead are perpetuating the actions that produce generalizations and specific situations that have helped shape my views regarding law enforcement. Being a business owner in the past here in Phoenix, and working and living in not so nice neighborhoods off of grand avenue, I came into contact with the police often and it really soured me on phoenix cops, much like the dreaded huntington beach police of the late 70s and early 80s who would crack the head of anyone looking remotely punkrock just to do so. I have had some extreme situations with crime and indifferent police officers that I had to deal with. So my opinions are based on actual experiences and situations throughout all of downtown phoenix. I also have been privy to inside info regarding racist and bigoted emails being sent between mcso officers. This is a definite cause for concern as to how this is tolerated by anyone anywhere in the mcso, hell some of them have already been made public and it still continues. It is the atmosphere where this has been exposed as taking place regardless of how few or many but the simple fact that it continues to this day after it was made public is frightening. And those I get my intelligence from know their jobs are at risk if they say anything and relaize that it was made public already and nothing done about it. I am told that nonofficers have been reprimanded because powertripping officers were not "correctly" addressed as lieutenant or sargent so and so. This is ridiculous that it is not widely required by all officers of such rank and only a few who cause problems with peoples careers due to their need for an ego boost to be always addressed by rank by employees that haven't gone through the police academy. But this behavior is indicatve of the attitude I see on the streets esp. By younger officers As Collins points out, his own son is a officer and thinks he knows it all, and it is a problematic situation of their age and is something that is best addressed by more experienced officers setting an example and then not covering for their trainees mistakes but when more experienced officers are exhibiting offensive behaviors than the inexperienced ones see this as carte blanche to do the same. I have been the head of a fraternal order that spanned this continent and another and have had to deal with these sorts of dynamics in a sense and the best way is to lead by example and when the leaders exhibit questionable behavior than those under them do as well and looking at how arpaio operates and how henderschott operated, as well as the two love birds whose names elude me at the moment, it doesn't look good regarding the direction that those that are under them are going and my experiences with these officers confirm this. Most people are not going to run into situations as often as I did with the police since I owned a business in a not so nice part of town prone to car burgleries, assaults, gang activity, robberies, drug sales and activity as well as my presence at night clubs in downtown parts of Phoenix where the cops seem to have a really bad attitude to the young and hip putting much needed money into the economy for an evenings entertainment. My concerns are valid and I don't appreciate them being brushed off as just generalizations that do not deserve attention. I don't know why Phoenix doesn't have a police oversight committe made up of members of the public as I would love to sit on such a panel. Such a panel could provide an atmpsohere where these issues could be addressed safely and without fear of the type of reprisals arpaio and cohorts are known for.

• Thank you Tommy Collins for your input. I think it is important to have people like you involved in forums like this and many of your posts have been enlightening. Though if I took issue with anything I wouldn't hesitate to bring it up, which I hope others would do as well for me. I relish an intelligent disagreement that doesn't devolve into either side sticking to a political platform whether it be democrat/republican, right wing/left wing, and I do attempt to read material from both sides so as to get the best possible perception of any situation.

• Heh, if he flipped and then flipped back than you might have a point but he is making the smart move and realized he had a better chance going in as an independant. I count this as reasonable and rational and it is the type of thinking I would like in a position of power rather than sticking to something that does not work the best simply to look nonwishywashy.

• G23, thanks for your thoughtful remarks. Yes, the 'family' attitude very much leads to criminality and corruption in law enforcement. If YPS ever takes the time to read about corruption in law enforcement and then takes a step back to look as his agency, MCSO, he might actually see the trees. He is pissy toward me because I have critical things to say about his agency and his 'leaders'. I don't really mind that, but I am hoping he will grow and mature through some of what you and I say on these pages. I don't know what his law enforcement experience is, but I can say I would be glad to match mine to his, any day, even though I probably have forgotten more about law enforcement than I once knew.... YPS reminds me somewhat of my 22 year old step-son who now has two years experience with a local police department in the Miami, FL area. He knows everything and I know nothing. Interestingly, when I was active in law enforcement as a police officer I never did really fit into the 'family'. In fact most of my friends were outside the police department and I didn't really socialize at choir practices and such. But, I continue to have friendships at some of the local agencies around the valley, including MCSO and within their posse organization. Some of the officers are PPD stop by while on patrol just to chat and ask about what's been going on in the neighborhood. Yep, they actually get out of their rolling cage and have a conversation... I am a fierce proponent of professional law enforcement, but also an avid opponent of the MCSO shurf and anyone who supports his type of management of an organization that COULD be held to be one of the best in the nation, instead of the laughing stock that it now is. YPS could channel his energy and emotions into making MCSO just that. Instead, he spends his time posting against some old retired guy who he thinks is making fun of the agency he works for. Again, YPS, don't cut off your nose to spite your face. It's guys like me who will jump in and help save you when you really need it....

• Not sure if YOURPRODUCTSUCKS is Sands, Locksa or the dog groomer. Anyway..hopefully Joke will be a worm sandwich if he is re-elected, within a year and a half. Or behind federal bars. Before posting again product, get all that Joe out of your mouth and off your face..you sound rediculous!

• Ask a Mexican when he / she plans to return to Mexico to legally apply for a work visa to legally enter the US? Where in Mexico is Nicky Diaz Santillan? She was deported right?

• My use if the word family referenced the law enforcement community, something Tommy collins was once, but is no longer, part of. I will ignore your broad generalizations towards law enforcement at a whole and your efforts at blaming those broad, generalized issues on those employed at MCSO an say, you are right. The law enforcement community continues the need to fight the 'us v.them' mentality. Public Service IS the reason one should be in law enforcent and that should never change as the individual continues through their career. All to often, the broad generalizations and false accusations or perceptions of the oft times ignorant public fosters an environment that allows Law Enforcement as a community to erroneously build walls to insulate themselves from the negative scrutiny, justified or otherwise. This is a problem in law enforcement, you are right. And it is the responsibility of the law enforcement community to fix it. I responded to a specific situation that collins brought up. Is there merit in his argument? Yes, there is. Is he 100% accurate? No, he is not. We are not working with absolutes here. I apologize for adding to the 'us v them' enviroent with my comments. I am not justified in doing so.

• @wow:   Unreal.  

• The sentence that includes "leads to transparency" should read "doesn't lead to transparency". And New Times, why isn't disqus configured here to include an edit function like other disqus comment areas have?

• It is the same Guest23 and the point is very easily gleaned from the words no matter the conversational/prose style of writing. You provide evidence that my points ring true by characterizing the mcso as a "family."A dysfunctonal "family" that is in denial and is codependent to other "family" members dysfunctional behavior. "Family" members are usually the last to critically point out other "family" members dysfunctions to anyone outside the "family." It really gets unsettling when you start ostracising and devaluating the perceptions of anyone that was part of the "family" but is no longer, like that has a bearing on the truth, esp when often this how truth escapes from the confines of a "family." The cultish manner in which the inclusion/exclusion dynamic you exhibit in regards to "family" reaks of probable peer pressure to conform and protect the "family" at all costs. This sort of mindset most likely contributes to the behavior of many cops and how many act like they somehow know better than everyone else and the manner in which they police which, on many occasions, is heavy handed, egotistical and stinking of macho powertripping (in my experience)... even to simple questions like "can I park here..No, ok so where can I park?" And then getting macho threats that I could get arrested unless I shut up when the situation is calm and doesn't in any way warrant such attitude. No respect or politeness whatsoever, even when I have witnessed a crime, I have experience the police being more interested in accusing whoever they want rather than hearing an eyewitnesses account that exonerates their chosen suspect. Granted all cops do not act this way and have strong ethics but the "family" atmosphere is the dynamic that leads even the best cops to turn a blind eye to small situations like I have described because it is not worth risking their careers over. I have read of too many news accounts that have described situations where an officer has tried to reel in a partner that is going to far in a situation that made the news... how many of these situations are not known about since their wasn't a camera handy or the media does not catch wind of them? Which also brings into question why cops think we have no right to videotape them while they are on duty and in action. If they are acting by the book they should have no problem with it but on too many occasions I have observed police telling people they cannot videotape them and going so far as to take away their cameras and deleting the incident. This I find appalling. And if one cop gets away with it another will think they can as well. I don't doubt that arpaios and his underlings arrogance has sifted down through the ranks, as I have witnessed it all too often. I am sure you will do your best to brush off my experience with some typical rhetoric just as politicians do, but the simple fact that those in the mcso consider themselves a "family" is cause for concern, esp when there are leaders like arpaio, henderschot and others, and the public doesn't hear much to anything in the press coming from anyone that is currently in the "family" about what is going on with their superiors. Families like to keep secrets and in situations like law enforcement this is a dynamic that leads to transparency and model behavior, in fact it can encourage the opposite. Remember your first priority "protect and SERVE" treating the general public with disrespect when they have not earned it is not the way to do it and it happens all to often and I think this comes from the examples set by their superiors. And for the record, these missives have been written while under the influence of nothing more than nicotine and jolly ranchers. My voice is valid because of the jobs I have held and the people I have dealt with and been friends with including many law enforcement, legal, filthy rich, poor, drug addicted people as well as ex criminals, business execs, famous actors, musicians, artists, authors and various other strata of society. I have also traveled the USA and Europe and all without a rich family and by my own hard work and coming from a humble lower middle class family. I am a former business owner and currently pursuing a law degree and am a very avid reader (a book a week is not unusual for me.) So well rounded experience and knowledge wise and a very rational and logical person who is not afraid to admit when I am wrong and not afraid to speak my mind when something in my experience or knowledge makes my input possibly worthwhile. Hell I was even once on the track to becoming an eagle scout until I got sick of those that found smoking cowpies to be adventurous and decided that was enough and quit to pursue accomplishments in other areas of life. Also for the record, my anonmity is for my partners careers sake and nothing more. And please, we know yourproductsucks but next time why don't you leave the all ad hominem comments aside and concentrate on refuting points made or at least include something in rebuttal as I will admit ad hominems do occasionally make for humourous reading but when that is all there is, it points to no valid rebuttal whatsoever.

• i have been a republican for 18 years very wishy washy article says at first he wouldnt change oarties then he said he would this tells me he cant make up his mind and doesnt stick to his decisions once their made i wont vote for him on that reason alone

• Heh, just like a politician... just attack the messenger and attempt to dodge the point.

• Mike Stauffer had some very good things to say.  His ideas about and experience in law enforcement are both reasonable and encouraging.  He will get my vote in 2012.

• I appreciate your passion. Imagine how effective you might be some day with experience and learned skills. You have potential, YPS.

• Funny, that statement lacked any logic, whatsoever.  I guess the operative word in your response would be "TRYING."   This can't have been authored by the Guest23 that normally posts here, or perhaps Guest23 is drunk/stoned.  Your response is 2nd grade stupid.  Although I don't normally agree with what Guest23 posts, especially when responding to me, I normally recognize some intelligence in Guest23's product.  This pile of shit is embarrassing to you, Guest23.

• I post my opinion. You post yours. Get over yourself. I won't be going away.

• Why would I waste my time and energy on a lost campaign?  Arpaio is not going to be unseated in 2012.  The smart candidate for Sheriff waits until 2016 after father time beats  Arpaio.  That's the only way Arpaio loses.   ...And that is a fact.

• It is obviously eating you that you are on the outside, looking in.  You remind me of that guy who retired from Mesa PD and became an editorialist for the Az Republic.  He quickly became ostracized by the family he once identified with due to his silly monday morning quarterbacking.   Like Joel Fox, you are a 'has been' command staff (If lieutenant is considered command staff) with a law enforcement agency.  You should try and embrace your new life instead of continuing trying to identify with a world you are not a part of.

• Holy run-on sentence, Batman!

• G23, I'm afraid trying to apply logic and common sense just won't work here.

• I don't need your permission to post my opinions, amigo. I am very careful with regard to making my remarks about MCSO directly attributable to the direction given to the employees, by command staff. Am I enamored by your command staff? No. You are wrong, by the way, about Sousa and Palmer. Neither of them should EVER have made such a public statement Professionals just don't act that way. Perhaps one day you will understand. No, I am not any longer a part of the 'family', but I will guarantee you this much; I watch officers from all agencies all the time on traffic stops and public contacts and if I saw one in trouble I wouldn't hesitate to stop and help, until the family arrived. I wouldn't even ask their name or agency, because I may not now have the badge, but I will always be a cop. I won't hesitate to state my opinion and you and your fellow deputies can like it or not. I have friends within your organization and I listen carefully to what they say about the MCSO shurf, and folks like you. Like Joel Fox, I think you are too close to the forest to see the trees.

• Heh, so you are one of those in the mcso. That explains some of your bonehead comments in the past. There are bad apples throughout the org, which is why top level mcso officials have been fired or are under investigation, that through the rank and file there are rascist cops, just check through the rascist emails and cartoons running around internally in the msco (thanks to those inside that are not officers but have access to this material), and the many officers I have run into and been nothing but polite to but still rec'd attitude, egotism and powertripping that was far from necessary in any situation. "To protect and serve" is supposed to be what all in the mcso are doing but I never get that feeling. It happens to often and in too many circumstances for it to be anomalies but rather something rotten with the whole system.

• Sousa and Palmer's words when taken in the correct context, were exactly what should have been said.  Gordon's platform against the Sheriff and the crime suppression sweeps was grossly negligent and was inciting the public to be disruptive and even violent to law enforcement officers in general and Deputy Sheriffs specifically.   Sousa and Palmer were protecting the deputies they were charged with supervising.  I applaud their actions.  All to often politicians say and do things at the detriment of others and rarely are they held accountable.  Gordon needed a wake-up call.  His incitement of anger and violence towards law enforcement is pathetic.  Calling Deputies who work for MCSO racist and Nazi is expected from the leftist propagandists, it is not tolerable from the Mayor of the 6th largest City in the Nation. There are amazing individuals who work for MCSO, whose integrity and common sense are unparalleled.  We have functioned under a heavy cloud of negativity and oppression for decades and continue to do an outstanding job despite the continued negative comments made by you and those like you because of your distain for the Sheriff.   You state you have posted that many if not most of the employees are good people?  In the last three days I have seen posts from you that contradict such a stance.  You continually berate and demean the MCSO and now you want to tell me otherwise?  You claim to be a retired law enforcement officer and that somehow gives you insight into the inner workings of the MCSO.   You have left the job, and are no longer a member of the family; your comments on this site bolster that.

• After the judge's ruling on the whole currupt Pearce/lying EV Tea Party/sham Cortes case, this is absolutely the right move for Mike Stauffer. Arpaio will drag this election into the mud and attempt to screw the voters just like Pearce; Stauffer is right to step outside of the GOP's filth and slime, and run his own campaign on his own credentials.

• Dan actually filed to run for the office sometime last year. There was a committee in place and in early 2011 Dan decided he has had enough and won't be seeking the MCSO seat any longer. Our energies need to be directed to Mike Stauffer.

• Maybe you and I could work together to help with this campaign, huh?

• I appreciate your contempt, but you happen to be wrong, amigo. For the past three years I have continually posted that many, if not most, of the employees at MCSO are good people and are working there because they believe in law enforcement and want to do the job correctly, You may very well be one of those, I don't know. I hold the MCSO shurf and his command staff responsible for the continued mismanagement of the agency. I saw two of the miscreants, Palmer and Sousa, spout off one day in a press conference, telling Mr. Gordon (who I don't care for as Mayor, by the way) and others to, "SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP". That, my friend, is no way to earn support from citizens and law enforcement professionals, working or retired. So, you don't care for me. I'm good with that, But I have given your agency boat loads of kudos along the way. If the shoe fits, amigo, wear it.

• This move is one that should have been made from the beginning.  Your campaign manager is continually a day late and a dollar short.  Perhaps you should employ a campaign manager who has ran successful candidacies rather than using a friend that seems to be a stumbling block to your campaign.

• I saw Saban just the other day.  

• You talk a lot of shit about MCSO.  You obviously have no interest in the Agency and have demonstrated your contempt in every post you make regarding those who work for MCSO.   I have absolutely no problem with one expressing their distrust and anger towards Arpaio as a Sheriff and the mismanagement from Command Staff.  However, you, like most of the others that mingle about here, express your contempt in a manner that alienates any who work for MCSO.   For this reason, I have nothing but contempt for you and those like you.  I have not a clue what Agency you retired from, but I am certain your absence has created a more productive and positive work environment.

• I supposed I have to get to know Mike.   I am willing to give him a shot, he sounds ok by reading the comments below.  "Mike.. call me"  lets talk.  I wanna know if you're as awesome as the comments here say you are.  I hope so.

• Where is Dan Saban ???  We need him to run more than ever now.

• You have family in Boston? OMG!

• "I fully support Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff-2012." As do I and my friends and family in Boston.

• Please Dear God, let this guy win. It would be so great to have an actual law enforcement professional hold the title of Sheriff instead of the attention whore we have now. As others have mentioned, people are so convinced that it will be the end of days without Joe, but that's a bunch of BS.

• I got to meet Mike Stauffer this afternoon and hear what he has to say. Like me, he is frustrated by the mismanagement of this very large agency that SHOULD be serving all of Maricopa County. He is frustrated with the poor resource management of personnel, fiscal management of funds available to make MCSO a better and more professional agency, and he wants to bring transparency and ACCOUNTABILITY to MCSO. I fully support Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff - 2012.

• Sad so say this won't work.  Republicans are bat-shit crazy.  Party over everything else, morals, ethics, integrity, talent, background, experience, vision...it just won't matter to the re-pubes.

• You already have my vote Mr. Stauffer. Even my family in Boston shudders at the MCSO shurf. Apparently the senile old fool isn't even popular in his homestate.  

• This is a very smart move,instead of having to run a primary race the Stauffer camp can focus their resources towards the general election. Some time back I contacted the Stauffer camp & spoke with Mr. Stauffer's campaign manager. I found him to be polite,sincere & forthcoming. Although I have never before voted for a Republican for any political office,I came away convinced that Mr.Stauffer is the right man for the job & we will be supporting Mr. Stauffer's run for Maricopa County Sheriff. Good luck to the Stauffer campaign.

• Good move Mike.  Work hard, take the high road, and beat him!

• Finally, somebody with savvy and determination to do the job and do it right.. good luck and God Speed with this journey... By switching parties, you avoided the Republican 'kill switch" that would have doomed your chances.. This way, you are on the ballot for people to vote on..

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