Letters from the issue of Thursday, July 3, 2008

As stated, he was welcome to look at any documents that my deputies had already processed and returned.

If he hadn't yelled and screamed at my attorney, there would have been no disorderly conduct charges ("Disorderly conduct charge reappears against Ray Stern," Feathered Bastard blog, November 27).

If Ray Stern would learn some manners and self-control, he would be much more effective.
Joe Arpaio, Fountain Hills

Honduras won't be going away: Ray Stern just got in the way of Joe Arpaio's latest waste of taxpayer money. More and more people, even the sheriff's base in Sun City, are getting fed up with this waste — especially in tough economic times.

Next time, many of us hope and pray the Phoenix police "arrest" crybaby [MCSO Captain] Jim Miller or any of the other little scums Arpaio sends out to do his dirty work.

You know, Miller's one of the ones who's been vacationing in Honduras ("The Bird digs up more dirt on Arpaio's henchmen soaking up the sun in Honduras," Stephen Lemons, February 28). Jimbo, you haven't heard the last of that.

Meanwhile, Miller showed the world what a hotheaded "dweeb" he is. Ha, he looked like he was gonna stroke out in the picture [that ran with New Times' coverage]. The whole county is laughing at him over that boo-hoo report on the incident that he wrote ("Maricopa County Sheriff's Office captain: 'My staff and I were humiliated,'" Valley Fever blog, June 13).

Joe, isn't this guy Miller a big liability to you? Just saying . . .
Jim Bob Modesto, Phoenix

Soft-boiled brains: There should be a journalism award that's up there with the Pulitzer Prize. It should be called the "Brass Balls Award" for standing up to corruption, and Ray Stern should win it.

Here's a guy who's already up on a completely undeserved disorderly conduct charge because one of the MCSO's private attorneys is a vindictive little bitch (she learned that from little bitches like Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas). This so-called officer of the court, Michele Iafrate, refused to allow Stern to perform his legal right to photograph public records, and when he rightfully complained, she sicced the sheriff's Selective Enforcement Unit dogs on him.

Next thing you know, he marches right into the city of Phoenix records department and demands to see exactly the same records as Joe Arpaio's goons are reviewing in the sheriff's attempt to smear Phil Gordon!

Man, you could tell from the coverage that these hard-boiled bullies just blew their stacks! It was a thrill to read about this!
Theo Martin, Phoenix

What might've happened?: Regarding the article "Please Tell Me We're On Candid Camera," in which you state, "Sheriff's Captain Jim Miller . . . picked up a couple of random folders sitting on the records counter and waved them in [reporter Ray Stern's] face. 'Take these papers from my hand!' he snarled. 'Take these papers from my hand!'": I wonder what would've happened had Mr. Stern taken the folders while stating: "Certainly, sir, I always follow the lawful orders of a police officer."
Lee Rosenstein, Scottsdale

Call their bluff: Nice job, Ray Stern. I don't usually support being arrested, but I can't help but think, if I were there, I might've gone for it.

The MCSO needed to have its bluff called. And your description is correct: They are "thugs" — Nazi thugs. It's almost a situation where MCSO deputies don't even bother with real criminals anymore. They're just intent on ethnic cleansing.
Dennis Gilman, Scottsdale

Not hard to understand why? Can anyone not understand why Sheriff Joe and the County Attorney Andrew Thomas need to be recalled?

Call 623-206-2039 and say you will help with the recall of these two . . . I'm not sure what to call these two people, who say that they are not accountable to anyone.
William Crum, Phoenix

Stupid Joke: Wow! Guess old age is kicking in for Joke. First it was us here in Guada­lupe, and now it's Ray's turn [to get harassed]. What the hell's wrong with so-called badass Joe? Good luck to Ray.
William Robles, Guadalupe

Rednecks in Oregon? Who knew?: I wish we had a sheriff like Joe Arpaio in central Oregon. If only it were legal to shoot these filthy wetbacks, I would be happy!
Ken Rockwell, Bend, Oregon

Bring him down hard: I'm confused because all cops are heroes (country music, award shows, and politicians tell me so).

After reading about Joe Arpaio's suppression of truth and not allowing [Ray Stern] to read public records that anyone should be allowed to read, I hope you bring this bastard down — and down hard.

I hate bullies and I hate people who suppress truth. This guy is both and deserves to be brought to justice for it. Good justice, that is — the kind that is righteous.
Boyd Durkin, via the Internet

Bully for us: Good work standing up to bullies.
Eric Bourland, via the Internet

Look in the mirror for the problem: The public's to blame for police excesses. We've always given cops the benefit of the doubt, allowed them to exceed their legal mandate without repercussions, and remained silent when they abused the authority of their badges.