Ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio was just named . . . the Duke of Italy?

During his controversial, scandal-plagued tenure as Maricopa County’s top law enforcement officer, Joe Arpaio styled himself as “America’s toughest sheriff.” Now, at 92 years old, he’s taken on a new title.

Duke of Italy. No, this is not a joke.

On Thursday, Arpaio announced on X that an Italian prince had bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Cariati. According to a document Arpaio posted, he received the title on Nov. 5, the same day he lost a race to be mayor of Fountain Hills.

I have been bestowed the official title of DUKE of Italy!

Today, His Highness, the Prince of Cariati, Italy, Michael Chan, visited my office to bestow upon me the official title of Duke of Cariati, Italy.

The Order of the Crown of Cariati is a dynastic order, a branch of the… pic.twitter.com/llxeeBisbp

— Sheriff Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) February 13, 2025

Phoenix New Times caught up with Arpaio on the phone about what he referred to as “the Italian thing.”

“I have a lot of awards, as you guys know – many, many awards,” Arpaio said. “But this is somewhat special. It’s very prestigious.”

For the average Arizonan, it also may be very confusing.

Arpaio does have Italian roots. Both of his parents were from Naples, immigrating to the United States before Arpaio was born. But Naples is not close to Cariati, which is on the opposite coast of Italy.

What is close to Arpaio is Michael Chan, who presented Arpaio with the title. The two have known each other since Chan was based in Phoenix serving as the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Estonia. In 2021, Chan was bestowed the title of Prince of Cariati by the sister of Prince Vittorio Emanuele, who is the son of the last King of Italy, Umberto II.

What does all that mean? Not much, Arpaio acknowledged. The title doesn’t give him any special authority. The Italian Constitution does not recognize titles of nobility, so while someone may hold a social title, it has no real power.

That’s a good thing, since Arpaio’s 24-year tenure as sheriff of Arizona’s largest county was marked by rampant abuses of power. He cost the county millions of dollars in lawsuit payouts for deaths and maimings at jails, and his department’s discriminatory policing policies led to a civil lawsuit that has cost county taxpayers at least $250 million so far. Arpaio’s defiance of a federal court order led to a criminal contempt of court conviction, though President Donald Trump pardoned him in 2017.

However, being Duke of Cariati might get in the way should Arpaio ever seek public office again, specifically at the federal level. Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the Constitution states that federal officeholders cannot accept titles from foreign kings and princes without the approval of Congress.

Notably, despite being consistently stomped in every race he’s run since 2016, Arpaio is not ruling out another reach for the brass ring of elected office.

“You never know with me,” Arpaio said.

When asked to square his aristocratic title with his patriotic fervor for America, Arizona’s newest Duke was unfazed.

“I don’t know about that,” Arpaio said. “All I know is I got that recognition and I’m proud of it.”