Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Joseph Michael Arpaio was born on June 14, 1932, in Springfield, Massachusetts. His mother passed away during his birth, and he was subsequently raised by his father, who operated an Italian grocery store. Arpaio completed his high school education and, at the age of 18, enlisted in the United States Army, serving from 1950 to 1954 in the Medical Department. During his military service, he was stationed in France for a period, where he worked as a military policeman.

Following his military discharge in 1954, Arpaio initiated his career in law enforcement as a police officer in Washington, D.C. In 1957, he relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he continued his police work for six months before being appointed as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. This agency later became integrated into the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Arpaio dedicated 25 years to the DEA, during which he was stationed in various international locations such as Argentina, Turkey, and Mexico. He steadily advanced through the ranks, eventually achieving the position of head of the DEA’s Arizona branch. After retiring from the DEA, Arpaio was involved in a travel venture through his wife’s travel agency, Starworld Travel Agency, situated in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In 1992, Arpaio was first elected as the Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, a position he held for six consecutive terms until 2017. His tenure was marked by strong media attention and the implementation of distinctive policies. He gained national prominence for his outspoken stance and enforcement actions against illegal immigration, leading to him being referred to as “America’s Toughest Sheriff.” His administration focused on various initiatives, including the establishment of “Tent City” for inmates in 1993, which he initially described as a “concentration camp,” and the reintroduction of chain gangs in 1995.