Police Chief Dan Saban’s Endorsements Shut Out Showboat Arpaio

In a stunning demonstration of the widely-felt need for a new Sheriff in Maricopa County, six of the state’s most prominent law enforcement associations endorsed Buckeye Police Chief Dan Saban for
Maricopa County Sheriff.

In accepting the endorsement of these groups
whose members number over 8,000 law enforcement officers and officials
statewide, Saban said "These men and women are counting on me to
restore professionalism to the management level of this office and to
support their efforts as professional crime fighters."
      

In
explaining why rank-and-file officers and deputies want to a new
Sheriff, Martin Bihn, spokesman for the Deputies Association said
Arpaio is to blame for undermining public safety by diverting precious
resources and money away from important crime enforcement projects to
publicity projects. I would add his spending millions on odd predilections and bizarre conspiracy theories in which everyone is out to get Joe Arpaio.

The groups endorsing Saban include:
      

• Maricopa County Deputies Association
• Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs
• Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association (AZCOPS)
• Chandler Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Association
• Maricopa Community College Police Association
• Maricopa County Probation Association

No association representing any employee or officer in the Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office has endorsed the current Sheriff. What does that tell you? It’s time for a new Sheriff in town…

Though Saban re-registered as a Democrat for this contest, don’t fool yourself that he’s a Dem in any sense. He’s absolutely a Republican, but defeating Arpaio among the very narrow and ideological electorate of a Republican primary is nearly impossible. Saban has done the smart thing that will allow the entire electorate of Maricopa County to decide who their Sheriff will be, not a tiny ideological minority.