Think tank condemns Arpaio's priorities

by JJ Hensley

It's the same attack, but from another end of the spectrum.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has repeatedly dismissed criticism of his office and its policies as the work of liberal-leaning media outlets and politicians who are looking to score points by taking on the controversial, conservative sheriff.

A report to be issued today by the libertarian-leaning Goldwater Institute looked at many of the same facts Arpaio's critics have used to assail him in the past year and reached the same conclusion: the Sheriff's Office has out-of-whack priorities that jeopardize public safety.

The report came with a list of legislative recommendations that could check some of Arpaio's authority.

"We are hardly soft-on-crime liberals," said Clint Bolick, director of the institute's center for constitutional litigation. "I think it hopefully tones down the rhetoric and focuses on policy solutions that will help focus scarce police resources and contribute to lowering crime rates."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/02/20081202goldwater1202.html