Thread: Ariz. sheriff's department target of federal probe

39 minutes ago

PHOENIX (AP) — Federal authorities have told a high-profile Arizona sheriff that they will investigate his department over allegations of discriminatory practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures.

The U.S. Justice Department says in a letter delivered Tuesday to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio that the investigation will focus on alleged patterns of discrimination based on a person's national origin.

Arpaio tells The Associated Press that he will cooperate with the Justice Department.

Arpaio has gained national attention for his efforts to arrest illegal immigrants in the Phoenix area.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... gD96RH6J03

I'll bet they are dancing in the streets of mexico.Looks like the commies finally got thier way.

Hang in there Joe.

DISGUSTING!

PHOENIX — Federal authorities have told a high-profile Arizona sheriff that they will investigate his department over allegations of discriminatory practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures.

The U.S. Justice Department said in a letter delivered Tuesday to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio that the investigation will focus on alleged patterns of discrimination based on a person's national origin.

Arpaio told The Associated Press that he will cooperate with the Justice Department.

Arpaio, who describes himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff" and is best known for feeding jail inmates green bologna sandwiches, clothing them in pink underwear, and making them work on chain gangs, received praise for his anti-immigration efforts from many who believe the federal government isn't doing enough to remove people in the U.S. illegally.

But his raids and sweeps of illegal immigrants in Phoenix and nearby Guadalupe have drawn protests from community leaders and civil liberties advocates. Arpaio, a Republican, has also been criticized for letting thousands of felony warrants go unserved while he chased illegal immigrants.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, there are about 59,000 outstanding, unserved felony warrants in the state. The majority are in Maricopa County, the state's most populated county.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,508586,00.html

73 comments so far at the source link.
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Congress schedules Arpaio hearing for April
March 11th, 2009 @ 1:17pm
by Bob McClay/KTAR and Associated Press

Protesters took to the streets outside Sheriff Joe Arpaio's downtown Phoenix office Wednesday in support of a federal investigation into the sheriff's policies.

The demonstration took place while, in Washington, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers said he will hold a hearing in late April into alleged civil rights abuses by Arpaio.

Arpaio has been criticized for sweeps of Hispanic neighborhoods in the Phoenix area looking for illegal immigrants.

The Phoenix march drew members of Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability, carrying pink slips of paper and calling for Arpaio to resign.

Randy Parraz of the group said it's about time for an investigation.

"It's a new administration," Parraz said. "Unfortunately, the previous administration refused to take action. They let it drag, they wouldn't do anything. For this administration to come in, and within 60 days, issue this type of investigation on a county speaks to what's taking place here."

A few Arpaio supporters showed up and exchanged comments with those demanding his resignation.

When Parraz said, "We want someone who cares about people," an unidentified woman interrupted and said, "We want someone who upholds the law. He (Arpaio) is the only one who upholds the law... They will investigate him and find out he is within the law."

The Justice Department's civil rights division said in a letter to Arpaio this week that he is under investigation for an alleged pattern of discriminatory police practices and of discrimination based on national origin.

After learning of the federal probe Tuesday, Arpaio said he has nothing to hide.

"If they want to come down and investigate and look into our activities, I welcome them," the sheriff said.

Four members of the House Judiciary Committee asked for the investigation to determine if Arpaio violated civil rights laws when he segregated 200 illegal immigrants at his Tent City jail. The sheriff said he put all of the illegal immigrants in one place to make it easier for them to meet with representatives of their native countries and for other processing purposes.

A letter from the Justice Department said its investigation will focus on discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures by the sheriff's office.

"Let 'em come," Arpaio said. "We'll open our books. But I want the people of Maricopa County to know that we will continue to enforce all aspects of the illegal immigration laws, and I'm not going to stop."

He added, "I'm not concerned. They can come down. Last year -- even after the mayor of Phoenix went to the Justice Department and asked for me to be investigated -- the FBI, I believe, looked into it and nothing occurred."

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who asked for a federal investigation of Arpaio a year ago, said Tuesday he is encouraged that one has finally begun.

"One year ago, I raised questions and concerns about possible civil rights violators by the sheriff against American citizens, military veterans and immigrants of every legal status, based on skin color," Gordon said in a written statement. "Since that time, we have seen an encouraging and dramatic turnaround in attitude at the U..S. Department of Justice. We should all be encouraged that our new attorney general is taking these issues seriously and this is the right thing to do."

The letter from the Justice Department's Civil Rights division did not offer specifics of the allegations. Arpaio said he believes the investigation was spurred by his department's often controversial efforts to combat illegal immigration.

In February, four key Democratic members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee asked Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to investigate Arpaio.

The lawmakers said Arpaio exceeded the limits of a federal program that gives local police federal immigration-enforcement powers by ordering deputies to search Latino neighborhoods looking for illegal immigrants based on skin color.

Arpaio's department is the largest participant in a federal program that allows local police departments to enforce federal immigration laws.

The department has also aggressively pursued investigations under Arizona's employer sanctions law and a state anti-smuggling law.

The smuggling law was meant to help local police fight smugglers but an interpretation by Maricopa County's top prosecutor opened the door for Arpaio's deputies to arrest people who pay smugglers and accuse them of being co- conspirators.

Arpaio has also launched crime sweeps in areas around Phoenix with high concentrations of Hispanics. Most recently, Arpaio began to separate illegal immigrants from other inmates in Tent City, a section of the county jail where all inmates are housed in tents.

Those tactics have given Arpaio national attention and they've also led some critics, including immigration activists, to accuse the department of racial profiling.

``The bottom line is these activists don't want me to investigate any illegal immigration activity,'' Arpaio said.

But he said the department will continue to enforce federal and state immigration laws.

http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1100242

Thomas defends Arpaio on civil rights questions
March 11th, 2009 @ 2:14pm
by Associated Press

PHOENIX - Maricopa County's top prosecutor defended Sheriff Joe Arpaio a day after the sheriff was told his office was being investigated for alleged civil-rights abuses.

The U.S. Department of Justice didn't specify the alleged abuses, but the sheriff believes the probe was prompted by his immigration crackdowns.

County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who collaborates with the sheriff in such crackdowns, says he wasn't aware of any racial profiling in Arpaio's crime and immigration sweeps.

While Arpaio defends the sweeps as necessary for improving public safety, he has been criticized for conducting them in heavily Hispanic areas.

Thomas says he is looking forward to working with the Justice Department on Arpaio's behalf.

http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1100821

You can bet that the real racists from La Raza are behind this.

The U.S. Justice Department says in a letter delivered Tuesday to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio that the investigation will focus on alleged patterns of discrimination based on a person's national origin.

It's the US Justice Department that needs to be investigated. 60% of illegals are from Mexico, another 20% from Central America, so would effective use of resources mean focusing on national origin? Especially since Mexico is actively supporting illegal immigration? When we were fighting WWII, we didn't go around looking for British spies.

All Maricopa county and Arizona voters that by the way have supported the great job Sheriff Joe Arpaio has done on Our Illegal alien crack downs .
I say Our Illegal alien Crack downs .
We the People demand the Federal government and racist special interest groups cease the the harassment of Our Elected Law Enforcement hero's .
They are doing the job that " who ever the federal government belongs too " is bound by the Great Constitution Of the United States of America Refuse Unlawfully to do .
Stay the Hell out our States business , we passed laws , we elect the right people to enforce them .
If any one is racist it is you .
Never in modern day history has there been so much emphasis put on legitimatizing the breaking of our laws , and the lowering of standards of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness which America and Americans were once envied around the world .
We the proud People of Arizona demand Our Border our sovereignty be secured and that our Immigration laws past and present are strictly Enforced .
If you on Capital hill don't wish to help with Our top priority agenda to save our Great state due to your Negligence " Stay Out of It " .
We the People of Arizona are Responsible and intelligent enough to police those we elect to Enforce the rule of law .
By the way , in case our new administration and lopsided so called law makers are ignorant to this Fact .
The United State was Founded on Rules of Law .