Sheriff Joe is not out of hot water.

[Jim Lane]

81. Most government agencies have a policy of paying judgments against employees

At least when the employee was acting in the scope of his or her official duties. This would normally apply even if the judgment is rendered after the employee has left government service.

It's generally a sound policy. There are many government positions which a person of average means couldn't accept without risk of personal bankruptcy if he or she would be personally liable on such claims. And don't tell me that you could completely protect yourself just by acting properly. Arpaio's case is unusual in that he was so clearly a miscreant. There are many cases that fall in a gray area.

I don't know Maricopa County's policy. My semi-educated guess, though, is that Arpaio won't have to pay a dime out of his own pocket.

In some jurisdictions, certain kinds of misconduct while in office can affect the employee's pension rights. My guess is that something like that is the best we can hope for in this instance.