Posted on 05/24/2008 9:25:24 AM PDT by radar101
Valley gun-maker Frank DeSomma donated about $10,000 worth of guns and equipment to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office earlier this year, but he wanted it to be a secret.
Governor takes Arpaios funds for task force
County OKs $1M for illegal-immigrant sweeps
“I wanted to give this because I appreciate the organization,” DeSomma said. “But I wanted to keep it quiet.”
But in Maricopa County, DeSomma soon learned, donations cannot be kept quiet. They are even discussed in public meetings because of specific rules to keep such gifts above board.
DeSomma, who owns Patriot Ordnance Factory in Glendale, was among dozens of people donating to Maricopa County agencies in the past year whose names appear on public documents.
Now, as Sheriff Joe Arpaio begins to openly and actively accept donations for his office’s immigration enforcement efforts, many expect the number of donors to skyrocket.
Arpaio said on Thursday that his office has already received numerous donations this week, just days after setting up a fund to collect them.
A statement released last week by his office said an unnamed California-based group had 10,000 people who wanted to give, but that fact could not be verified.
Since Monday, the sheriff’s office has brought in about $13,000, Arpaio said. As of Thursday, there was no way to independently verify that figure.
Arpaio also said the office was so flooded with calls from people asking how to donate, the sheriff’s staff had to set up a special telephone line just to handle them all.
What sparked the unusual flood of charity was a dust-up last week between the sheriff and Gov. Janet Napolitano.
The governor announced she was yanking more than $1 million in state money from the sheriff’s office in order to create a task force to hunt down fugitives.
Arpaio said he had planned to use the money to round up illegal immigrants and publicly accused Napolitano of a conspiracy to stop him.
That event, Arpaio said Thursday, started the flood of people hoping to help make up the difference.
“I don’t like asking people for money. I don’t like doing it,” said Arpaio, who insists he is not soliciting the donations, only accepting them as they come in.
A review of Maricopa County policies and state laws shows there are few rules guiding these kinds of donations and how agencies handle them. In fact, unlike campaign contributions, there are no limits as to how much someone can give, and there is very little oversight.
In Maricopa County, agencies have to disclose the donations to the Board of Supervisors once a month, and each donation has to be approved by the elected members of the board.
Fran McCarroll, the clerk of the board, said she has seen oddities like horses, cars, paintings and bricks donated to various county agencies. No matter how small the gift, though, it has to be approved, she said.
Arpaio said his agency will help police the donations, sending back any that aren’t specifically marked “for illegal immigration” or are personally made out to him.
However, he said, it will be tough to monitor the process very closely.
“How am I going to check every check?” he asked.
One has to ask what political benefit that Gov. Janet Napolitano would derive from trying to prevent law enforcement from doing their sworn job?
Illegals obviously can’t vote legally, so that would not benefit her. But, the hundreds of thousands of Hispanics that can vote obviously is her base.
Pandering 101 in politics trumps enforcing our nations laws.
I swear that guy is clever as a fox.
People all over the country would be only too happy to make up his budget loss.
So where do I send my check?
My best guess is Napolitano is trying to curry favor for an appointment in a new Dem administration, just like Kansas’ 36-hour tornado orphan governor Jean Sibelius.
Everything I have read tells me that most Hispanic citizens and practically all legal immigrants do not approve of illegals swamping us and have voted accordingly.
How did Napolitano get elected in Arizona to begin with? Soros provided the money to get public financing of campaigns into law.
How did Napolitano come to Arizona to begin with? Hillary sent her when Bill fired all the federal prosecutors. Napolitano stayed here and went into local politics.
What was the first thing Napolitano did back then as Arizona’s federal prosecutor? She stopped prosecuting child porn.
Where does Napolitano get votes? Who knows who is voting in Arizona. Photo ID for voting went into effect just this year.
Sheriff Arpaio doesn’t even ask for money, LOL.
http://www.mcso.org/include/pr_pdf/s%20Illegal%20Immigration%20Fight052208.pdf
aka diverted GOP contributions.
http://www.mcso.org/include/pr_pdf/s%20Illegal%20Immigration%20Fight052208.pdf
A number is provided to call for info on making donations. Below, is the possible (check it out before sending any donations) info gleaned from a telephone call to the Sheriff's office...
Posted by AmericanMe on a website, http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-115405.html
Just spoke to a lovely woman, Karen Andrews, at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. They have set up a special fund for donations to Sheriff Joe and are accepting all contributioons. Karen said they prefer cashier's checks or money orders...but if that's not possible...a check is fine. Make the cashiers check, money order, or check out to: MCSO.
Send donations to:
MCSO
Wells Fargo Plaza
100 West Washington
Suite 1900
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
I'm sending my donation today...nothing would make me happier than to send a message to Janet Napolitano! Sheriff Joe is a national treasure, and we need to show our appreciation!
“The Roman Republic fell, not because of the ambition of Caesar or Augustus, but because it had already long ceased to be in any real sense a republic at all. When the sturdy Roman plebeian, who lived by his own labor, who voted without reward according to his own convictions, and who with his fellows formed in war the terrible Roman legion, had been changed into an idle creature who craved nothing in life save the gratification of a thirst for vapid excitement, who was fed by the state, and who directly or indirectly sold his vote to the highest bidder, then the end of the republic was at hand, and nothing could save it. The laws were the same as they had been, but the people behind the laws had changed, and so the laws counted for nothing.” - Teddy Roosevelt
How do we donate?
“How did Napolitano come to Arizona to begin with? Hillary sent her when Bill fired all the federal prosecutors. Napolitano stayed here and went into local politics.”
Didn’t know that. Interesting.
Napolitano was also an attorney for Anita Hill!
Also keep in mind that Joe’s ability to go after the illegals is based on volunteers that he has deputized to form his posse.
Probably near my house.
Maybe I missed it, but where in that link does Arpaio ask for money?
As I said, Sheriff Arpaio doesn’t even ask for money, LOL. That’s just like him.
ping
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