EJ MONTINI

Sheriff Arpaio and Rev. Maupin, a match made in ... AZ

EJ Montini
opinion columnist
A memorial at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

The old sheriff and the young reverend, a match made in ... Arizona.

Only in Arizona.

They are like two moths circling the same flame, competing for the same light and heat, the light and heat of public attention.

So it should come as no surprise when Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announces that he will send armed volunteer posse members to churches with African-American congregations Sunday, at the request of Rev. Jarrett Maupin.

Maupin says he is concerned about the safety of the congregations following the mass shooting at the church in Charleston, S.C., that left nine people dead, and Arpaio is accommodating his request.

I'd like to believe that everyone's motives in this are altruistic, but... There is a history of seeking publicity with these two.

Then again, who knows? Perhaps seeing a sheriff's vehicle outside a church or a uniformed posse member nearby will afford some measure of comfort for churchgoers.

It's just that the old sheriff and the young reverend really like media attention, and something like this will get them some. It already has.

"We do have a fear a very real worry, that the incidents that occurred in Charleston can happen here in Phoenix," Maupin told a reporter.

Arpaio added, "I am the elected sheriff of this county, he (Maupin) asked me to help and I'm going to help."

Indications are that not all of the churches involved want posse members to be there. When told of one pastor's concerns Arpaio said at a press conference, "But I'll tell you he's going to get them (posse members) whether he likes them or not."

Tragedies on the level of the massacre in South Carolina aren't fodder for public relations. The loss is too great. The pain immeasurable. Tragedies like the killings at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church cut too deep and burn too hot.

Publicity seeking moths who get too close will get burned.