Thread: AZ-Group criticizes Arpaio at Phoenix event

August 19, 2008 - 6:08PM
Group criticizes Arpaio at Phoenix event
Paul Giblin, Tribune
Hundreds of people condemned the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for what they called lagging law enforcement efforts during an animated "public hearing" Tuesday evening in Phoenix.

Reasonable Doubt: Why no one is willing to hold Sheriff Arpaio accountable


The event that was conducted by a group called Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability blended video screenings about slow 911 response times, discussions about lawsuits against the sheriff's office, a skit depicting Arpaio's approach to fighting crime and presentations concerning potential civil rights violations.

An estimated 900 people turned out for the event at North High School in Phoenix.

Speakers said Sheriff Joe Arpaio's emphasis on arresting suspected illegal immigrants is cutting into his agency's ability to respond quickly to emergency calls and investigate serious crimes such as rapes. Furthermore, they said, deputies are routinely infringing on residents' civil rights by making improper traffic stops and asking improper questions concerning citizenship during those stops.

Arpaio has repeatedly denied allegations of civil rights violations and insists that his efforts to enforce immigration law have not negatively affected other operations.

The group's leaders closed the event by asking attendees to sign a petition that they intend to present to the five members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors at today's regularly scheduled meeting.

The petition asks the board to publicly apologize for what the advocates call unlawful detentions of U.S. citizens and legal residents by sheriff's office personnel; conduct town hall meetings in each of their districts to hear concerns about the sheriff's office; and put MCSA representatives on the agenda for the board's Sept. 17 meeting.

Hundreds of MCSA supporters appeared at board meetings in June and July asking for greater scrutiny of the sheriff's office. The board has oversight of Arpaio's budget but does not have direct supervision of the sheriff, who holds an elected office.

Today's meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors auditorium, 205 W. Jefferson St. in Phoenix. Among a long list of issues on the agenda is consideration of whether to allow the sheriff's office to continue using eight cars and pickup trucks as undercover vehicles without sheriff's office markings.

The sheriff's office makes extensive use of undercover vehicles during its illegal-immigration enforcement work.



http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/123543

Among a long list of issues on the agenda is consideration of whether to allow the sheriff's office to continue using eight cars and pickup trucks as undercover vehicles without sheriff's office markings.

Wouldn't be fair to not let the criminals KNOW you are in the area!

Originally Posted by gofer

Among a long list of issues on the agenda is consideration of whether to allow the sheriff's office to continue using eight cars and pickup trucks as undercover vehicles without sheriff's office markings.

Wouldn't be fair to not let the criminals KNOW you are in the area!

The highway patrol in CA have what we call "plain white wrappers." Not marked. I don't think they will get away with it. They guy is re-elected everytime and I think the supervisors know and don't want to take a chance.

Speakers said Sheriff Joe Arpaio's emphasis on arresting suspected illegal immigrants is cutting into his agency's ability to respond quickly to emergency calls and investigate serious crimes such as rapes.

Actually, according to Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, illegal aliens are more likely to rape, so actually JoeArp is doing exactly what you're asking him to do.