There’s only so much to talk about. And unless, for example, someone in power is completely bat-sh-- crazy, it’s hard coming up with new, possibly interesting topics every week.

It wasn’t hard this week.

Last Thursday, at around 12:30 a.m., Sheriff Joseph Arpaio dispatched around 60 deputies and volunteer posse members to Mesa dressed in battle gear, carrying semi-automatic weapons and accompanied by canines. According to reports from local news outlets, the purpose of this unit was to round up a number of allegedly illegal immigrants working for a janitorial service in city buildings.

Sheriff Joe’s posse first burst into Mesa City Hall, and then Mesa Public Library, on the prowl for janitors. In the end, three people were rounded up at the library and 13 others were later taken from local residences. Most of those arrested were not actually illegal immigrants.

Of course, the Mesa Police Department was not told that the posse would be entering its jurisdiction. No, the sheriff just decided that he would unilaterally invade another local municipality without even warning the local government.

Last Thursday was a perfect example of why Arpaio should not be our sheriff. He continues to operate the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as he sees fit. And, I’m sorry to say, the way our current sheriff thinks the MCSO should operate just isn’t worth it.

Sheriff Joe prides himself on being “America’s Toughest Sheriff.” I wouldn’t disagree. Considering the conditions of Tent City during the summer, I doubt his inmates would either.

I’m guessing our sheriff thinks that being tough on crime necessarily means being tough on criminals; as though the tougher you are with criminals, the more criminals will shore up their behavior and fly right.

Maybe that’s true. Not likely, but maybe.

But even if having the toughest law enforcement officer is a good thing for stopping crime, I have to wonder if crime is all that a law enforcement officer such as our sheriff should be worried about.

The position of Maricopa County Sheriff is an elected position, held in the public trust. Last Thursday, Sheriff Joe blatantly violated the public trust.

I don’t simply mean that the sheriff used questionable, over-aggressive tactics; I don’t simply mean that the sheriff used last Thursday as another campaign ploy; I don’t simply mean that the sheriff continued to focus on non-violent criminals. I simply mean that Arpaio spat on the Mesa government, without any regard for the consequences.

A few people — such as Mesa Mayor Scott Smith — have said that the unannounced entrance of Arpaio’s posse into Mesa put the public at danger. More than that, Arpaio signaled that not only is his authority greater than that of Mesa police’s, he said that even Mesa city buildings and institutions are subject to his overpowering authority.

I, for one, can’t stand for politicians who overreach their authority.

Sheriff Joe has done that and more. His methods have gone beyond too far.

Brett hopes he gets to hear Sheriff Joe say “screw you guys, I’m going home!” Tell him all the ways Sheriff Joe and Cartman are alike at blivingo@asu.edu.