Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's pink panties are in a bit of a wad after an Ohio mayor refused to grant police officers in his city the permission to come to Arizona and train with the MCSO's Drug Recognition Unit, which Arpaio says is one of the best drug recognition training programs in the world.
Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael Coleman joined a nation-wide boycott of all things Arizona in July of last year, following the implementation of SB 1070, Arizona's controversial illegal immigration law.
Today, three officers from the Columbus Police Department were supposed to come to Arizona to train with Arpaio's boys in beige. Thanks to Coleman's boycott, only one showed up.
"How could any mayor turn down the chance for his police officers to be instructed by the very best trainers in the country, all because one individual did not support Arizona's immigration law," the sheriff says. "Personal feelings and political philosophies should never outweigh public safety."
(Insert jab here about how Arpaio's political philosophy on illegal immigration has outweighed public safety for nearly two decades).
According to Arpaio, of the three Columbus police officers who were
supposed to train with his Drug Recognition Unit today, one opted to get
similar training in California, and another adhered to Coleman's
directive to steer clear of the Grand Canyon State. A third officer used
personal vacation time so he could receive the training from the MCSO.
Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety is
as perturbed as America's self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff."
"Maricopa County Sheriff's Office drug recognition training is the
premiere program of its kind in the country," Gutier says. "Any other
mayor would be thrilled to send police officers to receive the kind of
training they provide."
Arpaio's Drug Recognition Unit trains officers in how to identify what
drugs a motorist might be under the influence of during a traffic stop,
MCSO Officer Chris Hegstrom explains to New Times.
"When a deputy pulls over a car with a suspect for driving under the
influence, the deputy will run a roadside sobriety test," Hegstrom says.
"If it appears the suspect is under the influence but no alcohol
indicators are present -- i.e. smell, bottles in the car -- the deputy
will contact a [Drug Recognition Unit] to run tests for other inhibitors
consumed by the suspect."
The program is run by MCSO Sergeant Paul White and, according the MCSO,
is "nationally acclaimed" -- the program has trained law enforcement
officers from as far away as England, Germany, and Australia, as well as
officers from 37 states.
Arpaio says he's considering inviting Mayor Coleman to come to Phoenix
and visit his immigration yard at Tent City, and to go on a ride-along
with MCSO deputies during an "employer sanctions operation" (a.k.a
illegal immigrant roundup -- the MCSO's yet to arrest a single employer during
any of its "employer sanctions operations").
Calls to Coleman's office to see if he'd be interested in taking Arpaio
up on such an offer were not immediately returned this afternoon.
Check back for updates.
