Thread: Lawmakers invite Arpaio to SE Valley

Lawmakers invite Arpaio to SE Valley
5 commentsby Senta Scarborough and Megan Boehnke - Apr. 4, 2008 01:29 PM
The Arizona Republic
Eight legislators have jumped into the debate over Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crackdown on illegal immigrants, inviting the sheriff to expand his enforcement efforts into Southeast Valley cities.

The letter was sent Thursday, the same day Arpaio brought his deputies and posse to Guadalupe in the most recent sweep.

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, and other state legislators from Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert signed the letter, saying illegal immigrants have "imposed a tremendous economic burden on taxpayers and contribute to some of the most violent criminal activity in the state."
The letter cites the Chandler Rapist case and the murder of Phoenix Police Officer Nick Erfle as examples of crimes they say were committed by illegal immigrants.

"Law enforcement can no longer sit on the sidelines and be a spectator to the destruction of the Rule of Law and the degradation of our streets and neighborhoods," according to the letter provided by Barrett Marson, Arizona House of Representatives Director of Communication.

The letter was signed by State Representatives Mark Anderson, R-Mesa; Karen Johnson R-Mesa; Chuck Gray, R-Tempe; Warde Nichols, R-Chandler; Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler; Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, and Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert.

"By our government officials failing to act they are demonstrating their complicity for the deaths and maiming of our citizens as they continue in their refusal to enforce our laws," it went on to say.

On Thursday Arpaio conducted his most recent sweep in Guadalupe, saying he had been invited by the town manager and council members to help the town with what he called a crime-suppression effort. But Mayor Rebecca Jimenez issued a statement Thursday evening saying the town does not support the sheriff's actions.

A crackdown last week in Phoenix set off a war of words between Mayor Phil Gordon and Arpaio, and drew criticism from those who say the raids are racial profiling and undermine city police efforts.

A similar sheriff's operation in Mesa in November drew criticism from Police Chief George Gascón. On Friday Gascon declined to comment on the legislators' letter.

Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn said earlier this week he has concerns should the sheriff's enforcement actions take place in his city, saying he has confidence that Chandler's police department is meeting the city's needs.

http://tinyurl.com/68bwu9

"Law enforcement can no longer sit on the sidelines and be a spectator to the destruction of the Rule of Law and the degradation of our streets and neighborhoods," according to the letter provided by Barrett Marson, Arizona House of Representatives Director of Communication. "
A lawmaker with common sense and the guts to speak up!

"By our government officials failing to act they are demonstrating theircomplicityfor the deaths and maiming of our citizens as they continue in their refusal to enforce our laws," it went on to say.

There's the word I've been waiting for complicity and it was written by State lawmakers.


Sue the FEDS.

Said with a reverend Wrights speech attitude.


I feel a fax coming on! I feel a fax coming to the Republicans who haven't signed the Discharge Petition. I feel a fax coming on with this article in bold about the complicity of our government.

I feel a fax coming on. Oh ya, brothers.

Legislators ask Sheriff Arpaio to expand crime suppression
Reported by: Chris Kline
Email: ckline@abc15.com
Last Update: 3:57 pm


Slideshow
Sheriff Joe Arpaio brought in deputies for his crime suppression operation. (Joe Hengemuehler)
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Do you support Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime suppressions? Read more here

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Vote State legislators sent a letter to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Friday, asking him to expand his crime suppression patrols in the Southeast Valley.

"We encourage you to continue to enforce the laws and put America and our citizen's rights first," the legislators wrote.

Arpaio has spent the past several months leading efforts in central Phoenix to stop day laborers from loitering near stores. Click the slideshow link to the left to see photos from a crime suppression in March.

On Thursday night, he expanded that effort to the town of Guadalupe. Read that story here.

The Guadalupe crime suppressions are expected to continue on Friday night.

However, Sheriff’s deputies say they will have the command post and jail booking van moved to Mesa to allow deputies to work the streets of Guadalupe more than working crowd control.

On Thursday, deputies and posse members arrested 26 people for a variety of crimes, five of whom are under investigation for their immigration status.

Residents in these neighborhoods have been very critical of the crime suppressions, saying the Sheriff is unwanted and that he is racially profiling.

Signing the letter to Arpaio were Reps. Russell Pearce, Mark Anderson, Warde Nichols, Steve Yarbrough, Andy Biggs and Eddie Farnsworth and Sens. Chuck Gray and Karen Johnson.

Pearce praised Arpaio for doing what he said was the work of cities and police administrators who refuse to allow their officers to put public safety first.

"Sheriff Arpaio is single-handedly doing the job of the police chiefs throughout Maricopa County," Pearce said.


Copyright 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved

http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.a ... 0d25711864

Do you support Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime suppressions? Read more here

Yes 70%
No 30%

Do you support Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime suppressions? Read more here

Yes 73%
No 27%

Sheriff Takes Patrols to Guadalupe, Protesters Meet HIm

April 4th, 2008 @ 9:10am
by Jim Cross and Sandra Haros/KTAR

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, undaunted by accusations of racial profiling and wasting county money, plans to return this afternoon to the east Valley town of Guadalupe, continuing his third patrol operation targeting illegal immigrants in the past month.

Fifteen people, at least four of them illegal immigrants, were arrested Thursday as deputies and possemen flooded the one-mile-square town on the Phoenix-Tempe border, founded by the Yaqui Indians with a population now about evenly divided between Yaquis and Hispanics. As in two earlier patrols -- in central and north Phoenix where day laborers gather -- the sheriff's officers were met by protesters, who claimed they were looking only for illegal immigrants.

Arpaio said he was invited to the town, which contracts with the Sheriff's Office for its law enforcement, by city officials and business leaders who are concerned about crime.

The sheriff said Thursday he is tired of criticism from Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and others about his efforts to enforce immigration law.

``I am discouraged, disgusted at the mayor and other critics who keep saying, `Sheriff, you should be arresting all your warrants and not go after illegals,'" Arpaio said. ``We are NOT responsible for all those warrants."

He added, ``I'm here doing my job that I took an oath of office to do," and said of Gordon, ``Maybe he ought to follow his oath of office."

The sheriff criticized Phoenix for not implementing a new policy in which city police officers may contact federal Immigration and Customs agents if they stop a suspect who is an illegal immigrant.

``Their (Phoenix's) public safety director, Jack Harris, has been procrastinating," Arpaio said. ``How long does it take him to decide to sign a policy to allow our Phoenix police to enforce the laws?"

The sheriff was met in Guadalupe with critical comments from Hispanic leaders.

Businessman Juan Aguero said, ``We need to tell Mr. Arpaio, `It's time for you to hit the rocking chair, baby,'" Aguero said. ``Because we need to get another sheriff in town. The toughest sheriff is becoming the worst sheriff that we ever had. It is unfortunate that Arizona is on the map because of a crazy person."

Aguero called the operation a blatant attack on Latinos.

Phoenix attorney Salvador Ongaro chimed in: ``Anytime we see a new operative, it tends to divide the community that much more. It's been very negative for the entire community and the city to have to see this."

Former state lawmaker Alfredo Gutierrez repeated his plea from earlier this week for the sheriff to stop the patrols.

``This is a particularly vicious and incompetent human being," Gutierrez said of Arpaio.

Francisca Montoya with the Chavez Foundation said, ``Picking up people on traffic violations or people who might have their tags expired, people jaywalking, those aren't real criminals," Montoya said.

One business owner, who did not want to be identified, said Guadalupe is a hotbed of drug and gang activity and that he supports the sheriff's patrols.

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=795737

Originally Posted by MyAmerica

Do you support Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime suppressions? Read more here

Yes 73%
No 27%

Same percentages

Do you support Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime suppressions?
Yes 85%
No 15%