Lone ranger: Tucson's tough-talking sheriff suddenly has national spotlight

[pampango]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0110/Lone-ranger-Tucson-s-tough-talking-sheriff-suddenly-has-national-spotlight



To Arizonans, he is the state's foil for Joe Arpaio, the outspoken sheriff of Maricopa County whose unyielding stand against illegal immigration has led to national recognition. As the sheriff for 30 years of the more liberal Pima County – home to the University of Arizona – Dupnik has license for making controversial comments that appear out of line with the rest of the state.

Now, however, his comments have thrown him into a national spotlight, making him either a brave speaker of hard truths or a symbol of a willful desire to stereotype and malign conservative America.

In September, he made similarly pointed comments when he said that the tea party movement brings out "the worst in America." "We didn’t have a tea party until we had a black president,” he said at an immigration forum at a local church. Asked to explain the comment, he added: "I was talking about how bigotry is alive and well in America.”

Sheriff Dupnik also has taken aim at Arizona's immigration law, which originally would have required law-enforcement officials to ask people who looked like illegal immigrants to provide proof of legal residency in the US. He said of the law: "it is unwise, it's stupid, and it's racist."

I'll go with "a brave speaker of hard truths."

[liberal N proud]

1. We need to support this guy

He is for the truth and needs all the support he can get. The right wing will attack him with everything they have and who knows what they will do to him.

Thank you Sheriff Dupnik

[ananda]

2. I really like Dupnik.

This guy speaks so wisely.

[bushisanidiot]

3. Everything he has said has been spot on!

It's too bad no one in the media will state the obvious like this guy is doing!

Preach it on, brother sheriff!

[Carolina]

4. K&R

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Finally..............

a good man comes along.

[handmade34]

6. Thank him...

someone posted this link a couple of days ago and I have written to thank him for speaking out. He looks tired and worn on TV; this must be terribly draining for him...

http://pimasheriff.org/about-us/meet-the-sheriff/

[disillusioned73]

15. Thanks, I just sent the following...

"I just wanted to express my appreciation for Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik in the midst of the recent tragedy. I want to thank him for speaking truth in our corporate media and standing firm to his beliefs. There are many out here that agree with him.. and hope that he keeps his chin up in the face of the onslaught of ignorant opposition that is/has surely to come his way. Be safe and continue to speak the TRUTH."

[steve2470]

7. k and r nt

[seabeyond]

8. does anyone find it ironic, right has been maligning left for years with hate and bigotry are now

protected when called out by accusing the speaker of maligning the right even when we have documented proof time and again the right maligning the left with hate and bigotry.

i find this now amusingly ironic, in all its sickness and enabling we allow with the right.

it is reminding me what we do with our children today. always making excuses for their behaviors and poor choices, justifying, never holding them accountable and then wonder why they are so fucked up. the complete opposite of what the repugs say they are, one for accountability and taking responsbility.

[bullwinkle428]

9. 52 years in law enforcement - I think the guy has a pretty good

idea of knowing what's up!

[DBoon]

11. I'm sure he has seen many death threats from right wingers

more than he would care to disclose

In his job, he knows very well how dangerous things have become

[malaise]

10. I love him

Go Sheriff Dupnik :yourock:

[Kingofalldems]

12. I bet they have a tough time with bullet riddled road signs

in his county. And probably the whole state.

[madokie]

13. He reminds me in a lot of ways

to our Sheriff here.

rec

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. "Arpaio (...) whose unyielding stand against illegal immigration has led to national recognition"

Actually, illegal immigration is involved with only a fraction of the horrible shit Arpaio does. He's not only a menace to "durty Mexicuns".

[blondeatlast]

16. Goddamned truth, CPD. Yet another wrongful death lawsuit--beware: shudder-worthy details:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Own Records Raise Serious Questions About Inmate Juan Mendoza Farias' Violent Death

Juan Mendoza Farias was handcuffed and alone in a jail cell when guards opened the hatch on his cell door and fired more than a dozen paintball-like pepper balls at him. Then they fired Taser electrical stun guns — more than a dozen times, by one guard's account — into Farias. Next came "the Devastator," a fire extinguisher-like mace sprayer, then an electronic crowd-control "stun" shield and more Tasers. Two hours later, during a separate altercation with 11 other guards, Farias stopped breathing and then died.
Those details come from Maricopa County Sheriff's detectives' investigation of the incident. On November 14, the Sheriff's Office released nearly 5,000 pages of jail records — four months after New Times requested them, wrote a story about the sheriff's stonewalling, and filed a lawsuit to secure them.

The lawsuit was filed in October. Without a court order or ruling, sheriff's attorney Michelle Iafrate volunteered to release most of the records — about one week after Arpaio won re-election.

New Times first reported on Farias' death in September ("Dead Again," September 11). At that time, the sheriff refused to hand over a single public record regarding Farias. New Times based its story on photos of Farias' beaten body, as well as an autopsy and jail guard reports, secured through a public-records request made to the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.

All emphasis mine.

Lots more at link--and, most importantly, THIS ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO THE FIRST TIME.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-11-20/news/sheriff-joe-arpaio-s-own-records-raise-serious-questions-about-inmate-juan-mendoza-farias-violent-death/

[AsahinaKimi]

17. The News media will find a way to

discredit him. That woman from FOX news has poo pooed his statements, asking why he had to interject his personal opinion into the case, and Limbaugh was already calling him a Fool. It makes me wonder if Jan Brewer may step in and remove him from the case...or tell him to keep his opinions to himself?

In the meantime, Fox and friends will ramp up the crap, and keep it flowing. They seem to want to escalate the situation.. I wish the Democrats would get in their face, we need more like Alan Grayson and Anthony Weiner.