Controversial Arizona sheriff starts 'Mugshot of the Day' contest
Joe Arpaio, sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, says the photos could drum up leads for investigations.
April 20th, 2011
12:38 PM ET

Controversial Arizona sheriff starts 'Mugshot of the Day' contest

The Arizona law enforcement official known as "America's toughest sheriff" has come up with a new way to demonstrate his authority.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has begun posting online mug shots of people who are arrested, asking people to vote for the photo they find most amusing. He says that putting the mug shots online and inviting a mass audience to view them is a way to drum up leads for investigations. "I want people to turn to see if their neighbor's been arrested," he said.

Some people have said it's unfair, arguing that not everyone arrested is guilty and that putting the images online in that forum, to exist forever in cyberspace, could result in unfair discrimination for innocent people pictured for years to come.

Arpaio is not the first to come up with the concept of posting mug shots online. Thesmokinggun.com and newspaper Web sites have been doing it for years, and the public is responding with clicks.

Arpaio is used to a great amount of attention. He's famous for his tough treatment of those convicted in his Arizona jurisdiction. He has fed inmates green bologna and made them wear pink underwear. His unconventional approach to law enforcement has drummed up many headlines over the years.

Last week, an investigation into alleged misconduct by Arpaio's subordinates ended with a 1,022-page report delivered to the sheriff. The investigation was led by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, and a letter to him from Arpaio said privacy limits prevent disclosure of the report until those named can appeal its findings.

 Post by:
Filed under: Arizona • Joe Arpaio
soundoff (81 Responses)
  1. Scrooge

    COME TO LOS ANGELES SHERIFF JOE AND RUN FOR MAYOR WE KNOW YOUR NOT INTO BABYING THESE MEXICANS OUT HERE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS IT IS A SHAME WHAT THEY GET~AWAY WITH OUT HERE THE REST OF AMERICA WOULD BE IN SHOCK OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON OUT HERE SERIOUSLY

    April 21, 2011 at 10:58 am | Report abuse |
  2. Toad

    Thank you Princess! But Mario is in another castle!

    April 21, 2011 at 12:02 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Dim Mak

    @Jo: He runs a county jail not a state penitentiary. Community service and no frills is fine, but humiliation is something many convicts have already received from mommy and daddy growing up. Our youth are being groomed into criminals by society then sheriff Joe pours salt on the wound. I'm fairly certain Joe has committed some illegal offense in his life. Making them wear pink is a sign of a mental problem mixed with a god complex. He probably thumps a bible at them too. You keep living in your blind world where the government does no wrong. Ignorance must be bliss.

    April 21, 2011 at 12:09 pm | Report abuse |
  4. banasy

    @jj: nope, I'm not from AZ. But I've been following the Sheriff's unorthodox methods for a long time...he *is* in the news a lot!

    April 21, 2011 at 2:40 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Dim Mak

    @banasy: If a lowly county sheriff is in the news ALL THE TIME then he clearly likes being in the spotlight. Most sheriffs get a national headline every so often, but he seeks the attention. He reminds me of Ralphy from A Christmas Story who grew up tormented by the pink bunny suit, so he does the same thing to men he has power over. Typical bully behavior.

    April 21, 2011 at 3:03 pm | Report abuse |
  6. banasy

    @Dim Mak:

    Of course it is. Have I ever said otherwise?

    April 21, 2011 at 3:59 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Dim Mak

    @banasy: I never said you did. Chill out. Lay off the caffeine. 🙂

    April 21, 2011 at 5:24 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Ancient Texan

    A lawman doing a very good job and we need many more like him. He's been investigated by Jessie Jackson, the Justice Dept. and every bleeding heart liberal organization in the country. He does what he does legally and by the book. When prisoners get out of his jail and never want to go back. The sympathy for criminals and terrorists by the left is amazing.

    April 21, 2011 at 6:59 pm | Report abuse |
  9. banasy

    @Dim Mak: ooooh, a triple shot latte sounds good right now...of course that triple shot would be Kahlua. 😉

    April 21, 2011 at 10:47 pm | Report abuse |
  10. lloyd

    chinese gorverment will shoot anyone who deal drug but there are ton of people willing to sell drug evry corner of chinesse city.so you think what jose been doing will stop all the bad guy to comit to do the bad thing that all they no how,you must be wrong

    April 22, 2011 at 5:17 am | Report abuse |
  11. Michael Leong

    For an analysis:

    http://bigother.com/2011/04/27/arizona-sheriff-arpaio-panopticism-neo-physiognomy/#more-18720

    April 28, 2011 at 1:42 pm | Report abuse |
  12. hash press

    Hey There. I found your weblog using msn. That is a very well written article. I'll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read extra of your useful info. Thank you for the post. I will definitely comeback.

    April 3, 2012 at 12:04 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4
« Back to main