Fountain Hills was treated to a breath of fresh air when Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone spoke to an overflow crowd Wednesday evening at the Community Center. It was standing room only until the room was expanded and more chairs brought in.

Sheriff Penzone entered to a standing ovation. Fountain Hills recognizes that the new sheriff in town is a real sheriff.

Penzone never mentioned his predecessor by name, but talked of working diligently to get the almost 300 lawsuits he inherited settled (what a waste of taxpayer money), that he will save $4.5 million per year by closing Tent City and housing those inmates in the empty spaces in the jails (half have already been moved out), that there was no unit set up to go after the almost 40,000 unsolved felony cases (he has set up a unit and they are making arrests), and that as a county sheriff, he legally can have no involvement in immigration policy/enforcement (a federal issue).

Virtually every statement and answer to questions got a big round of applause. He said employee morale was low when he took over (lawsuits suck the life out of everyone), and he has been working with staff and getting their input for who they respect for promotions.

Penzone is articulate and does his research — a welcome change from the self-aggrandizement we had to put up with from our former sheriff who thumbed his nose at the law and court orders and cost us hundreds of millions (and then bragged of doing things “my way” – the illegal way).

Having someone who understands, respects and follows the law will save taxpayers many millions from the lawsuits the former sheriff's incompetence brought on.

Thank you, Sheriff Penzone, for showing that a good sheriff is both tough and respectful.