Rank-and-file county staff reveal fear of Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Lord have mercy!)

[Are_grits_groceries]

As conflicts between Maricopa County's Board of Supervisors and the sheriff and county attorney escalated in 2009, rank-and-file county employees were plunged into a yearlong emotional roller coaster.

This month's announcement of a federal grand jury entering the fray brought county workers some relief and hope for an end to the extraordinary tensions. The grand jury is looking into allegations of abuse of power by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his chief deputy, David Hendershott, in their dealings with judges and county officials.

Fears first spiked in December 2008, when county administrators spent $10,000 to sweep county offices for illegal wiretaps they worried had been installed by Arpaio. None was found. But rank-and-file workers still became terrified of possible surveillance, lawsuits or even arrest. Arpaio's frequent retort to critics that the innocent had nothing to worry about did not allay their concerns.

Unsure what or whom to believe, many county workers quit talking about sensitive matters on the telephone or in e-mails, even when using their personal home computers.

Conversation in hallways and elevators stopped.

Some feared they would be arrested while pulling into the same parking garage where deputies took Supervisor Don Stapley into custody.

Others worried that even minor infractions - a chipped windshield, having a beer before driving home after work - would be an excuse for deputies to pull them over or arrest them.

One Superior Court judge moved meetings with her staff and other judges to the chamber restroom, believing it would be a less likely spot for a listening device.

Working for a county often at war with itself put employees on edge and stressed relationships with co-workers and spouses.

There's a lot more about their fears here: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/01/29/20100129mctension0129.html

I cannot imagine working under those conditions. I'd probably be put under the jail.

[Ardent15]

1. Arpaio is a fucking disgrace to humanity

And that's saying it lightly.

[DesertFlower]

3. i'd like to see him in one of

his jails. let's see how well he does in "tent city".

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Eugh, you made me think of him in pink boxers. Thanks a lot.

Not. :puke:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. That right-wing monstrosity has fans. Here. I kid you not.

Show yourselves, fuckers. You know who you are. Tell us your opinions about this piece of news. Come on, don't be shy.

[Ardent15]

4. He's popular in Arizona

He's cultivated his media image and political contacts very smoothly, as I understood it.

[alstephenson]

8. They don't come here.

But just read the comments below the article and you'll know all you need to know about Arizona's most stupid and racist inhabitants.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

6. I've said it before and I'll say it again...........

Arpaio is a national shame. Arizona needs to get rid of this Torquemada.

[midnight]

7. "Everything I do," he said, "I just assume it will be used against me."

I wonder how this will end... It sounds like sheriff joe is a little hitler...