Day 1
Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport provides the usual scene: people whispering,"That’s Sheriff Joe," nudging their
companions, others walking up, smiling, "I’d like to shake your hand, sheriff. You’re doing a great job." Still others remind him of how they had met before, or mention a relative who works in law enforcement, somewhere. Most
people in his position, whether in politics or show biz (and surely some would say the sheriff straddles both arenas) accept the constant interruptions, introductions and comments with polite detachment at best or active annoyance at worst. (Politicians tend towards the former, while entertainment types feel free to let their id run wild and act with raw obnoxiousness.)

Sheriff Joe falls into another category. He eagerly anticipates, even seeks out, the interaction with the public. He relishes the compliments, that’s for sure, but also listens when someone details a situation on his street that requires a police response, and tells him who to call, which, more often than not, is his own office, phone number provided with a business card, of which the sheriff evidently carries a limitless supply. The sheriff is energized by the ceaseless contact, even when, on occasion, the citizen is bold enough to tell him, sometimes in strong terms, he disagrees with his actions. Sheriff Joe doesn’t back off or hesitate, but responds, sometimes in equally strong form.

There’s been more than a little made of criticism from police unions and police chiefs directed at the sheriff in the media, but we encounter cops from a variety of agencies in the terminal, and, same as cops everywhere, they step up to shake hands and exchange a few words. Whether Phoenix PD or U.S. Air Marshal, it pretty much goes one way: The officer or agent tells his tale, where he works and who he knows (and the cop world is pretty tight, and everybody seems to know somebody in each department, including MCSO), and the sheriff invariably says that he’s looking for deputies, and why doesn’t he transfer and come work for him? The cop laughs, and some reply that they’re happy and others say they’ll think about it. And, lo and behold, some do end up moving.

We're on our way to do some PR for his new book, Joe's Law: America's Toughest Sheriff Takes on Illegal
Immigration, Drugs, and Everything Else That Threatens America. Sheriff Joe has been grumbling that he doesn't know why he had to fly to NY to do all these shows he does all the time anyway, right from Phoenix. He has a point, though an in-person appearance usually has a greater impact than one done remotely. So, grumble though he may, here we go.

And let the chips fall where they may.