Gaydos: Sheriff could help with DUIs

We all know that Arizona has some of the strictest laws in the country when it comes to drinking and driving. I have made an effort NOT to have one drink before getting behind the wheel. I don't want to sleep outside at Tent City like so many other people have for drinking too much and driving their car. I'll take an O'Doul's...

If our laws are so tough in this state on the issue, why do we have a problem in Mesa with drunk drivers getting away with the crime? It seems Mesa officers are only picking up one or two drunk drivers per night. They used to get around eight arrests per night.

Here's the problem. The Mesa PD has been restricted due to budget cuts. They don't have enough money in the bank for officers to patrol the streets looking for boozed-up citizens driving around recklessly.

I'm a problem solver. I roll 3-7. I'm a man of action. I'm the main attraction...I know I could run this town better than Governor Whoo-Hoo Brewer or Mayor Phil. Let me prove it to you.

Here's the solution to the Mesa DUI problem: In this bad economy, when police forces are restricted due to budget cuts, I would urge Sheriff Joe Arpaio to halt his crime suppression raids and use his officers to help Mesa and other Valley cities nail drunk drivers. If Arpaio is pulling over suspected illegal aliens for broken tail lights, bent license plates and breaking minor traffic laws, then these reasons can also be violations that lead to DUI arrests.

If it's about safety on the roads, the sheriff should move his resources to help Mesa crack down on DUI's. It would show this town that Arpaio cares more about the community than the national attention he is getting from his "BLANKING MATCH" with Janet Napolitano.

The Sheriff has been on every national TV and radio show on the entire planet over the last few weeks..."The Toughest Sheriff vs. Janet Napolitano, the only woman ever to be drafted to the NFL as a linebacker." I TEASE. Seriously, if I hear these two bickering at each other one more time, I'm going to puke my guts out… all over Mac. Enough is enough! Same old argument, same old vendetta. BORING!

Arpaio is doing these crime suppression raids for two reasons. One, he believes in them and feels he is making Arizona safer. I applaud him for that. I have backed him on that. The second reason is that he wants to shove it in the face of Napolitano. That's lame and rather petty. Been there, done that.

I say keep the immigration crackdowns but limit them. The economy has hit Valley police departments hard. Arpaio could and should help support them in these tough times. Listen Sheriff Joe, stop thinking ONLY about illegal immigration. Don't ignore the rest of the problems here, like Mesa and the DUI issues. Even though there won't be cameras around, it's still the right thing to do.

That's How I Roll!