I'm not sure if Sheriff Jim Alderden's house got egged last night, or if someone else dressed up as John Wayne at the department halloween party, but his latest online installment of the Bull's Eye is pretty much a cranky rant against everyone, including abuse victims who are emotionally torn at seeing an abusive spouse taken away, reporters who ask critical questions and citizens who watch "CSI."
Under the title, "Illegitimi Non Carborundum" (a pseudo-Latin phrase meaning "Don't let the bastards grind you down"), Alderden uses the word "disheartening" seven times in his column, and informs readers that, "the old adage is wrong – crime does pay – and frequently pays better than 'public service.'"
The upshot is that Alderden writes that he won't run our county like Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix, AZ (which is good news for citizens, immigrants, offenders and the Chronicle). Then, he wraps up his column with a pledge to keep at it with determination and loyalty and a repeat of his title (although someone should tell him that the "bastards" typically refer to authority figures).
I know being a cop or a jail deputy are pretty thankless and tough jobs, and it's a little touching to see our county sheriff publicly sharing his personal struggles, but Alderden does make $95,238.26 a year, the most of any elected official in Larimer County. And he does seem to have a knack for egging on scrutiny with his pronouncements about budget constraints, which other county departments are also suffering, and gang violence.
I'd suggest giving the sheriff a hug if you see him, but county officers do carry tasers so maybe approach non-suspiciously or just give him some trick-or-treat chocolate and tell him to hang in there. After all, as he writes, he's in office for "another 1,170 days (but who’s counting?)."
1 comment:
This is worrisome. At least he's able to pour his heart out online. In the old days he would have to go out and crack some skulls to relieve the pressure.
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