Several people have tried to deny this, and blame it on the sheriff she hired (after she fired the other sheriff). They were just trying to pass the buck, because this fits right in with Palin's conservative/religious philosophy.
More recently we have been given some proof of this from Sarah Palin herself. When pressed on WHY she fired the head trooper (it was alleged she was trying to make him fire her former brother in law to avenge a family vendetta) she said she fired the guy because he requested extra money to arrest and prosecute rapists in Alaska. I'm not kidding, she said it herself right out of her mouth, he asked for more money to protect women from rape, and so she fired him. I think that statements warrants repeating.
I think the real fact in the matter is she was abusing her power as Governor to destroy this guys career, and she fired the head trooper because he wouldn't reign down on her former brother in law. It is just astounding to me that she would use the excuse that he asked for more money to investigate and prosecute rape cases to fire him. What kind of women is this anyway? Scary....
Irie