Republic throws more bombs at sheriff with another incendiary editorial

Last week we instituted a header: Newest game in town: Which Republican is the daily targeting today?

We apologize for the error. The title should have been: If it’s (reader fills in the appropriate day of the week) it must be time to slam Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Today the editorial, Stop wasting funds, falsely hammers him for being a freewheeling squanderer, “wasting precious resources–your tax dollars.’

Of course what actually has editorial writer Linda Valdez riled up isn’t money. She merely needed cover to go after him for the recent Mesa crime patrols the sheriff’s office was invited to conduct in the area by eight East Valley legislators whose constituents were tired of inaction by the Mesa police department. In fact, the Mesa Mayor and Police Chief responded today by instituting stricter enforcement when encountering illegals during the course of their duties.

Valdez, who has become a dedicated voice for illegals, uses words unworthy of one who has such an influential position. For example, she writes that “many have committed no crime other than crossing the border without permission.”

Without permission?”

Some regular police work probably had to wait.”

Isn’t that “probably” a tad imprecise for an editorialist?

And then, “Do they raise a huge threat to law abiding citizens? Not usually, ” Valdez opines.

Apparently she is blissfully unaware of the home invasion last week in which a homeowner was killed or the Valley police officers who have lost their lives, or the child rapist, murderous drunken drivers and the litany of other criminals who have slipped across the border without raising their hand for permission. Of course, we have the homegrown variety, which is bad enough. We certainly don’t need to import them–”without permission.”

Then she trots out the unfailing red herring of unserved warrants.

Valdez derides the sheriff’s spokesman who reported the sweep resulted in the arrest of 44 U.S. citizens, 28 undocumented immigrants and 21 people with outstanding warrants, by writing, “There could have been some really mean characters among the fugitives swept up by the sheriff. If so, it was a lucky catch.”

Regarding the warrants the daily hauls out whenever attempting to smear Arpaio, the facts are that comparatively few warrants represent serious felonies. Many are minor cases such as possession of marijuana or other drug related matters, where defendants are released on their promise to appear and then never show up for their arraignments. Felony warrants are issued in those cases. These are not murderers walking the streets as we are lead to believe.

Regardless of your agenda, using the pages of the newspaper to knowingly disseminate falsehoods is shameful behavior, Linda.