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Celebrity Justice
Sheriff to Shaq: Gimme That Badge Back!

Posted Jun 24th 2008 4:45PM by TMZ Staff

The Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona thinks Shaq-Fu better shut up! And now he's pulled the NBA baller's special deputy's badge because of his rapping rant against Kobe Bryant.

Last January, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio made the Phoenix Suns star a special deputy, and then promoted him to a ceremonious colonel earlier this month. "I want his two badges back," Arpaio told the AP, "Because if any one of my deputies did something like this, they're fired. I don't condone this type of racial conduct."

Arpaio, known as "America's Toughest Sheriff," is best known for forcing inmates to wear pink undies and work on a chain gang.

O'Neal also served as a reserve officer with Miami Beach PD while playing for the Miami Heat.

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Tags: basketball, deputy, maricopa county, MaricopaCounty, NBA, Phoenix Suns, PhoenixSuns, shaq, Shaquille Oneal, ShaquilleOneal, sheriff joe arpaio, SheriffJoeArpaio

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(Page 2 of 3) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. How the hell can it be racial whenever they are both black? LOL.... retarded sheriff

Posted at 5:38PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Rus

17. Is this the same Sheriff that spoke out when Paris went to jail? If so he did an interview and he sat in a chair and surrounded him self with all the young female inmates looking like he thought he was Hugh Heeifner. If it is in factt him I don't think he is someone that should be talking about others and what is or isn't appropriate.

Posted at 5:25PM on Jun 24th 2008 by mg

18. I would like to say a comment is a comment in America a person has the right to voice an opinion. I think we have perfect examples of where our law enforcement has reacted in an unlawfullful way and still got backing from other law enforcement officials whether right or wrong. It kills me to tink that in this day in age the person being accused is black and the sheriff is white. Now i could easily say if Shaq was white it'll be ok right. But he's not but because of media frenzy the sheriff has reacted. Hell can we say that this is gonna change what happened? No SHAQ has that right to denounce anyone he feels hasn't given him a fair shake in his career behind closed doors! What message is this shut up big guy and listen police officers dont curse and there model citizens. That has to be a comedy central joke!

Posted at 4:13PM on Jul 5th 2008 by bigbadazz

19. The Sheriff is a Laker Fan. ...

Posted at 11:06PM on Jun 25th 2008 by Luke

20. This sherriff is a complete media whore. He is an elected official and has been doing whatever he can to get his name in the paper for the last 15 years. It gets him re-elected and feeds his enormous ego. How many sherriffs do you know with PR departments. This guy is a loser that has been abusing his public position for years as a platform for his own self-promotion. He is the epitomy of what can go wrong when publically elected officials have no term limits. Their need for self-preservation exceeds their need to be quiet and do their job.

Posted at 5:42PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Gilligan

21. This is ridiclous. First there was nothing racial about it. And if all the rappers can get away with all the things they same (which is much, much worst than what Shaq said) then what's the problem. GET OVER IT!!!!

Posted at 1:06PM on Jun 25th 2008 by northy

22. #13.....BINGO. O'Neal's "white boy" comment is racist. He is a racist just like Imus,Richards etc.

Posted at 5:50PM on Jun 24th 2008 by HANG THE HOGANS

23. SHQA SAID WHAT HE SAID, SO WHAT. IT'S HIS FEELINGS, HE DOESEN'T NEED THE SHEIFF OF ANY COUNTIES APPROVAL SEEING HOW THEY'RE NO PAYING HIM. THEY GIVE IM A PLA-PLAY BADGE. HE CAN BUY FROM ANY TOY/WALMART. KOBE IS N ACCUSED RAPIST AND THEN TD ON OTHERS WHEN HE GOT CAUGHT. IF SHQA DID WRONG IT WAS HIS JOB TO TELL.

Posted at 6:02PM on Jun 24th 2008 by FOXXYMAX

24. Everybody... Sheriff, tell me how my @ss taste!

Posted at 6:00PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Kobe

25. The sheriff is absolutely right. Shaq's unprofessional conduct would not be countenanced on any legitimate police force. He can't act like a spoiled kid and expect to be taken seriously as an authority figure.

Posted at 6:27PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Carolyn A-B

26. Shaq you should shove that badge up his rear. What a baby! It's all a big publicity stunt to try to up his appearance. I bet election is just around the corner, right?

Posted at 6:52PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Jessica

27. This is a tough one to call. Shaq has obvious issues, and Joe Arpaio has broken more federal and state laws than any other law enforcement officer in America, yet he retains his job in Arizona because he holds file after file of dirt on those who could remove him from office.

Posted at 8:08PM on Jun 24th 2008 by Chuck Paugh

28. I don't really get why the sheriff thought Shaq was a classy guy in the first place.

Posted at 10:57PM on Jun 24th 2008 by confused

29. Arpia is a dork enough said.

Posted at 1:52AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Sherrif Arpiao Sucks!

30. seriously though that sheriff has major issues.

Posted at 1:52AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Sherrif Arpiao Sucks!

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