has been that the national media has fallen for this guy's hype and promoted him as some godsend in crime deterrence and enforcement labeling the man "America's Toughest Sheriff". There was even talk about featuring him on some reality show recently. I hope those ideas were derailed by recent events.

I'm not sure where the next step is. One of his enablers has been this very bizarre county attorney Andrew Thomas that, until the national spotlight went on him, backed up Sheriff Joe. His recent actions signify that he's "seeing the light" but I think it's just typical political survival and that he needs to be held as accountable as all others involved.

So, I don't know if maybe a request to some federal agency isn't in order but I don't know if that would be a direct request with the FBI or through the US Justice Department. I think I trust the FBI but not sure, with all the politics going on inside the JD, if they'll take any action. I'm not sure also if our state Attorney General has any authority over an issue like this. There's definitely some research ahead of me.

Bottom line though is the new empowerment I feel. What's funny though is that I have no feeling I should abuse that new power. I'd like to think that is an American trait shared by most of us.

Art