Thread: AZ-Supervisors vote again to pull sheriff from Guadalupe

Supervisors vote again to pull sheriff from Guadalupe
September 29th, 2008 @ 12:31pm
by Jim Cross/KTAR

For the second time in a month, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to cancel the sheriff's contract to provide police services for Guadalupe.

That means Guadalupe will be looking for new police protection March 16.

The revote was needed because protesters were ejected from a meeting earlier this month, raising questions about the state's open meeting law. The supervisors decided to hold a special meeting Monday to erase questions.

At Monday's meeting, opponents of the sheriff, as earlier, were not allowed to speak to the board.

Outside, one of those, Raquel Teran, said, "We have a town of Guadalupe who's lacking a sheriff. What are they going to do? Just because they spoke up against the sheriff, just because they said that they are not going to tolerate it anymore."

Several people were escorted from the auditorium again Monday, including one of the group's key organizers, Randy Parraz. He was taken away in handcuffs.

Teran said, "The community is going to become unsafe." She and other protesters asked, "Who's next? Who is next? What community is next?"

The supervisors meet again Oct. 15 and protesters say they will be back, demanding to speak before the board.

The town of Guadalupe went to court last Friday in a last-minute attempt to stop Monday's vote by the supervisors. The town filed suit in federal court, trying to stop the sheriff from pulling out of Guadalupe and possibly leaving the town without any police protection.

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=966354

September 29, 2008 - 3:57PM
Updated: September 29, 2008 - 6:07PM
Protester arrested at county supervisors meeting
Comments 12| Recommend 2
Paul Giblin, Tribune
The Board of Supervisors on Monday voted again to end the county’s law enforcement contract with the town of Guadalupe during a heated meeting where a spectator was arrested.

VIDEO: Watch coverage of Board of Supervisors meeting

Do-over county meeting to bar public comment

County Supervisors will ratify votes

Barred doors may lead to repeat board meeting

Deputies block public meeting to discuss Arpaio

The meeting was held to ratify a similar vote taken Sept. 17. But that vote was nullified because Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies and county security personnel blocked public access in violation of the Arizona Open Meetings Law.

On Monday, the board voted 3-1 to pull the sheriff’s office from Guadalupe within 180 days. The move came after Sheriff Joe Arpaio tried to terminate the contract himself, in response to public criticism by the former mayor who complained about a sheriff’s office sweep targeting illegal immigrants in April.

Arpaio, however, lacks the authority to end the contract, leaving the duty to the supervisors.

At Monday’s meeting, sheriff’s deputies arrested Randy Parraz, an organizer of a group called Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability, after escorting him and about 12 other members of the group out of the meeting for speaking out of turn.

More information about Parraz’s arrest was not immediately available. Sheriff’s office spokesman Capt. Paul Chagolla, who was at the scene, repeatedly walked away without even acknowledging a Tribune reporter who was trying to ask him questions.

Parraz and members of his group have attended Board of Supervisors meetings since the summer seeking to be placed on the official agenda to discuss their concerns about Arpaio. The supervisors have refused their request.

Monday’s do-over ratification meeting was tense from the start.

At least 30 deputies and guards were stationed inside and outside the county auditorium where the meeting took place. Authorities distributed yellow fliers to those entering stating that disruptive people would be removed, and that weapons and signs were not permitted.

Speaking before the meeting started, Parraz, an attorney, asked sheriff’s deputies to explain how signs could be banned.

“We want someone to come down, Sheriff, come explain to us: Where’s the rule?â€

I don't know of any supervisors or boro meetings where they allow protestors to carry signs and protest INSIDE the meetings. It's disruptive, rude and obnoxious. The protesters were warned beforehand. Doesn't matter if they liked the "rule" or not, it's common courtesy to allow EVERYONE to speak. Unfortunately, protestors don't like it when someone disagrees with them and will shout whenever someone with an opposing view has the floor. That's what "protesters" do, that's the problem and probably the reason why no signs are allowed.