Fountain Hills Republican Club members, as well as other interested persons, will have a chance to catch up on former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s exploits Saturday, July 20.

Arpaio is guest speaker at the club’s regular monthly meeting. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Community Center. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Coffee and light breakfast refreshments will be available.

In his talks Arpaio draws from his 55 years of experience in law enforcement. Back in the ‘60s, he was fighting pitched battles in the mountains of Turkey and in Mexico against international drug traffickers. This was before he “retired” in 1982.

An article appeared in the Phoenix Gazette in July 1982 stating, “After 30 years of busts, breaks and scuffles, Joe Arpaio’s professional history looks like a season of episodes of ‘Magnum P.I.’”

The law enforcement aspects of his careers have been well documented in the local, state and national press along with articles written by the international press. However, little has been reported about how his Animal Safe Haven (MASH) Unit rescued hundreds of animals from neglect and abuse. The perpetrators of the animal cruelty were prosecuted, and female inmates were given the opportunity to care for the rescued animals in jail.

These experiences are from the life of a boy from Massachusetts who lost his mother in childbirth, who then moved around several times, being cared for by various family members.

Arpaio graduated from high school at 18 years old just as the Korean War was breaking out. He immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Upon being discharged from the Army he entered the Washington, D.C., police force. While conducting traffic control on the day of President Eisenhower’s Inauguration in 1956, Arpaio was pulled off that duty to carry the flag to lead off the Presidential Inauguration Parade.

People have asked if Arpaio has retired again. His answer is, “Not likely.” He and his wife of 61 years, Ava, have invested in four ventures in their hometown of Fountain Hills. He works 14 hours a day and is in the process of writing his third book.

Arpaio said he may not run for office again but he still believes he has much to offer the country he loves so much.

For more information, visit fountainhillsrepublicanclub.org.