CAMPAIGN AD REALITY CHECK

Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006 | 7:28 a.m.

What the ad says

Tom Ferrell, past president of the National Sheriffs' Association: "As past president of the National Sheriffs' Association, I know what it takes to be a good sheriff. Jerry Airola has what it takes."

Danny Staggs, former president of the L.A. Police Protective League: "As a patrol officer in California, Jerry was elected president of the Police Officer's Association."

Walter Lamar, retired FBI agent: "Jerry had the courage and the integrity to report a fellow officer for corruption."

Dan Corsentino, sheriff of Pueblo County, Colo.: "Jerry cares about helping people. He volunteered in rescue missions during both Hurricane Katrina and the search for Elizabeth Smart."

All of the previous speakers: "Jerry Airola is known across the country as a great cop. We're proud to support him for sheriff."

What the ad is trying to do

Jerry Airola has not been a cop for more than 10 years. But he induced some law enforcement-types to say a few nice words about him to buff up his law enforcement credentials.

What's accurate

Tom Ferrell is sheriff of Adams County, Miss. He says he's known Airola for only a year and only because he helped out during Hurricane Katrina.

Danny Staggs was president of the police union when Airola worked in Southern California. He states a fact - Airola was a union boss, too.

When he "was" a cop, Airola apparently went to ex-FBI agent Lamar with a complaint about a fellow officer. Lamar went on to become acting law enforcement director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Before Congress in 2004, Lamar claimed to know what happened to $28 million missing under the prior administration. But when pressed, he admitted he did not know.

What's wrong or misleading

Colorado Sheriff Corsentino is running for a fifth term. He mentions Airola's helicopter rescue missions. What he doesn't mention is that Airola's company just kicked in $5,000, the single largest donation, to the sheriff's campaign.

The ending claims Airola is known across the country as a great cop. A guy who hasn't been a cop in more than a decade but has been saying he's a cop since he began his campaign? A guy who was fired from his cop job, then 10 years later traded a helicopter for a California deputy's badge so he'd look good here? And who won't admit the badge was revoked because he doesn't live in California?