PHOENIX – In Arizona, seeing Sheriff Joe Arpaio on TV is nothing new. But the self-described "America's toughest sheriff" now has a national platform to pursue lawbreakers that stretches beyond the 5 o'clock news.REALITY SHOW
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which oversees the state's most populous county, has a starring role in Smile ... You're Under Arrest!, debuting Saturday on Fox Reality Channel. The program sets up elaborate sting operations to snare people wanted on outstanding warrants.
"IT'S ENTERTAINMENT"
Sheriff Arpaio has been accused of being publicity-hungry more than once, but he says the show's producers approached him: "It's entertainment. But on the other hand, we're able to accomplish a mission and also arrest people out on warrants."
QUIRKY SHERIFF
Some are already casting Smile as just the latest in a laundry list of quirky actions taken by Sheriff Arpaio, known for his Tent City Jail, where inmates are housed under surplus military tents, wear prison stripes (over pink boxers) and work on chain gangs.
HARSHER CRITICISM
But he has fielded harsher criticism: His office has paid millions of dollars in settlements involving dead or injured inmates and has been criticized for its controversial crime sweeps.
THE PROGRAM
So far, three half-hour episodes are in the can and more could be made, depending on the ratings. Sheriff Arpaio also credits it for at least 400 arrests. Every arrestee featured must sign a release form giving the network permission to air the footage. So far, nobody has refused.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which oversees the state's most populous county, has a starring role in Smile ... You're Under Arrest!, debuting Saturday on Fox Reality Channel. The program sets up elaborate sting operations to snare people wanted on outstanding warrants.
"IT'S ENTERTAINMENT"
Sheriff Arpaio has been accused of being publicity-hungry more than once, but he says the show's producers approached him: "It's entertainment. But on the other hand, we're able to accomplish a mission and also arrest people out on warrants."
QUIRKY SHERIFF
Some are already casting Smile as just the latest in a laundry list of quirky actions taken by Sheriff Arpaio, known for his Tent City Jail, where inmates are housed under surplus military tents, wear prison stripes (over pink boxers) and work on chain gangs.
HARSHER CRITICISM
But he has fielded harsher criticism: His office has paid millions of dollars in settlements involving dead or injured inmates and has been criticized for its controversial crime sweeps.
THE PROGRAM
So far, three half-hour episodes are in the can and more could be made, depending on the ratings. Sheriff Arpaio also credits it for at least 400 arrests. Every arrestee featured must sign a release form giving the network permission to air the footage. So far, nobody has refused.
