Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is allowing inmates to watch the Rio Olympics broadcasts on television screens throughout the jail system. The Sheriff says the exception away from the usual inmate channel choices of the Food Channel, the Weather Channel and CSPAN, will serve to enlighten inmates in the jails on the various countries and cultures represented in the Games of the 31st Olympiad.
“The athletes competing in the Rio Olympics have committed themselves to excellence and that is something to admire and learn from,” said Sheriff Arpaio.
“Some of our inmates come from countries from around the world that are competing,” he continued. “So, I hope they appreciate this. But, they probably will hear the United States National Anthem more than any other based on the gold medal count.”
Sheriff Arpaio started playing the National Anthem and God Bless America in the jail system several years ago.
Recently, Sheriff Arpaio ordered that inmates wear uniforms that have American flags affixed to them. Also, the Sheriff placed U.S. military veteran inmates in their own housing unit decorated in red, white and blue.