Citizens demand Sheriff Arpaio's resignation

March 30th, 2009 @ 1:01pm

by Bob McClay/KTAR

Members of a citizens' group, unhappy with Sheriff Joe Arpaio's policies on illegal immigration, were rebuffed Monday when they tried to deliver "pink slips" to the sheriff, demanding his resignation.

Members of "Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability," said they would try each hour to deliver pink slips of paper, outlining their grievances, at the sheriff's office in downtown Phoenix.

Deputies rushed to meet them the first time they showed up, said the group's Virginia Hauflaire.

She said three deputies came to the receptionist's desk, that one "went in the back room for a minute, came back out and said if we didn't leave right now, we were going to be arrested for criminal trespass."

On their second attempt, an hour later, the citizens were told to call and make an appointment.

That triggered an exchange in which Dan O'Neil of the citizens' group asked a person at the reception desk, "Is it possible to meet with a representative? Do we have to have an appointment first? Do we call to make an appointment? Do you have a number we can call?"

Another man in the group asked, "How come the sheriff's afraid to talk to us?"

The group said it would continue trying to serve the pink slips once an hour until 3 p.m. Monday.
http://news.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1111543