PHOENIX -- He never met a microphone he didn't like. That's what some people say about Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and he admits he gets a lot of publicity.

Arpaio says his is the most famous sheriff's office anywhere.

"And everybody knows the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office -- even on the moon," he quipped.

Arpaio says he needs to go before the media to get the message out that he's arresting illegal immigrants.

"I'm not a publicity hound like everybody accuses me of," he said.

But after making that statement he changed his mind and said, "Maybe I am a publicity hound, OK? I can't go around mailing to 4 million people that I did this. I don't have the money, OK? So I go before the media and let the public know. So, I am a publicity hound."

Arpaio blasted the Valley's print media for not reporting on recent arrests at several illegal immigrant drop houses in the Valley.

The sheriff said the recent arrest of more 27 people at an illegal immigrant drop house was a pretty big deal he felt should have received more coverage. "Now I would think that felons, when you arrest 27 people for felonies, that's news." He claimed the Valley's newspapers didn't cover the story. "How come I can never get attention in the newspapers when we arrest people on illegal immigration? I'm not complaining about the television or radio. They cover it pretty well."

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Related story: 34 Arrested In Drop House Bust

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