OPINION – When I ran for Sheriff in 1992, I made many promises to the people of Maricopa County, not only protect them but also to protect the animals. I strictly enforced the anti-animal cruelty laws for all of my 24 years serving as sheriff and received many prestigious awards recognizing my fight against animal cruelty.
I appreciated Clint Hickman (former member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and former owner of Hickman Farms) for sending me a photo of when I was in a pig pen promoting the passing of an anti-animal cruelty law. In 1999, as part of my fight against animal cruelty, I requested for and helped pass a new Arizona law ensuring that livestock could turn around in their pens.
I didn't mind playing around in a muddy pig pen even if many political figures to this day sling mud at me to further their own political agendas. In 1954, I started my law enforcement career as a D.C. cop patrolling a black police precinct area. I was very aggressive and was often taunted and called derogatory terms such as "pig."
