'Toughest Sheriff' takes act to small screen

[thundley4]

Maricopa Co. Sheriff Joe Arpaio now has his own TV show, "Smile: You're Under Arrest."

Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio -- whose showy brand of justice has raised charges of discrimination and civil-rights abuses while making him a hero among fans of his tough-on-crime attitudes -- will star in "Smile: You're Under Arrest."

The show, which premiers this weekend on Fox Reality Channel, features Arpaio and other officers using elaborate ploys crafted by comedy writers and carried out by professional actors to arrest suspects with outstanding warrants.

In one, a suspect is invited to a fake fashion shoot and told he's going to become a supermodel, according to Fox Reality's Web site. In another, a suspect is tricked into what he thinks is a job as a movie extra and, after a staged argument between the film's "director" and another actor, gets promoted to the starring role.

WTF????

No, this isn't from The Onion, but it sure sounds like it is.

[Chris_]

Actually, it sounds just like Sheriff Joe's style.

[Bondai]

It's been done before, but without the cameras....

[Chris_]

WTF????

No, this isn't from The Onion, but it sure sounds like it is.

They have shown those kinds of stings on Cops for years.  Good idea and fun to watch.

[Chris_]

They have shown those kinds of stings on Cops for years.  Good idea and fun to watch.

One would think that after so many years of doing stuff like this, the crooks would be at least a little wary of stuff like this, but I guess in most cases, the ability to apply forethought to an action set isn't high on the list of skills sets required to be a criminal.

[thundley4]

They have shown those kinds of stings on Cops for years.  Good idea and fun to watch.

Cook County did a gift card sting just before Christmas. Stupid criminals.    I'm just kind of worried that libs will use this against Sheriff Joe.

[Chris_]

One would think that after so many years of doing stuff like this, the crooks would be at least a little wary of stuff like this, but I guess in most cases, the ability to apply forethought to an action set isn't high on the list of skills sets required to be a criminal.

I can't remember who said it, but someone said "criminals are criminals because they are, by and large, very stupid." The cunning TV criminal mastermind is almost nonexistent, and even the street smart guy who can stay one step ahead of the law is very rare.