Let’s talk about a rare commodity in today’s society; Loyalty.

I met Sheriff Joe Arpaio in 2002 while serving on the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel; the man has never changed. He’s probably the one constant that our society can count on for integrity, security and protecting all citizens in Maricopa County.

His style may not always be appreciated but his results should be.

An instance: When approached in 2003 to support a pilot program to save lives through the introduction of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), he jumped right in. He lent our community 2 AEDs from the MCSO; that gesture grew to 40 AEDS placed in Fountain Hills United School District, churches, parks and all public buildings.

He helped save four lives in our town. He started a successful General Educational Development (GED) program for young inmates. Tent City is a uniquely qualified success.

Illegal immigration was becoming problematical in 2003. Citizens decried the continued problems in the emergency rooms (ERs) with illegal migrants using these facilities as ordinary care facilities.

Maricopa County had about 500,000 illegal migrants with more flooding across the border. The federal government started a program enlisting the aid of trained Maricopa County Sheriff’s (MCSO) officers to interdict this problem.

Today the sheriff is under fire for doing his job, having illegal migrants chanting obscenities and calling for his imprisonment. He did his job protecting citizens who elected him. Maybe he did it too well for the Obama Justice Department.

I believe he’ll be re-elected to serve our community and preserve our values. He has been loyal to us. We should return the complement.