Arpaio's Deputies, Posse Expand Patrols
MCSO Responds To Business Owners' Complaints

POSTED: 10:53 am MST March 20, 2008
UPDATED: 12:27 pm MST March 20, 2008


PHOENIX -- Nearly 200 sheriff's deputies and posse members are poised to launch a new patrol in two areas of Phoenix after business owners complained of rising crime, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said.

Owners complained of increases in criminal activity and other problems largely related to illegal immigrants and day laborers in their neighborhoods, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said.

Arpaio said he will send hundreds of volunteer armed posse men and women along with several ICE-trained deputies to saturate the two areas beginning Friday at 4 p.m.

"Businesses owners in these two parts of Phoenix have indicated to me that they are extremely frustrated with the growing problems associated with illegal immigration," Arpaio said. "They say they feel that only this Sheriff's Office will provide the kind of law enforcement help they want and need to reduce the problems."

Arpaio said the operation is a repeat of the Thomas Road mobilization that occurred late last year when owners of Pruitt's Furniture Store appealed to Arpaio for help with their day laborer-related problems. During that operation, more than 134 of people were arrested and booked into jail, 94 of whom were determined to be illegal immigrants.

"Any illegal immigrant whom we come across in the course of our crime suppression program in these two Valley areas will be arrested and taken directly to jail," Arpaio said.

Arpaio said the operation will also include the enforcement of the new employer sanctions law that went into effect in January.

Last week alone, seven people in various parts of the Valley were arrested by sheriff's deputies for illegally gaining employment through fake documentation, Arpaio said.

Over the past weekend, 127 suspected illegal immigrants were booked into Fourth Avenue Jail.
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