Sunday, June 2, 2013

Slow Saturday Specials: Sheriff Joe Arpaio

"Ariz. sheriff profiles Latinos, judge rules" Associated Press, May 25, 2013

PHOENIX — A federal judge ruled Friday that the office of America’s self-proclaimed toughest sheriff systematically singled out Latinos in its trademark immigration patrols, marking the first finding by a court that the agency racially profiles people.

The 142-page decision by US District Judge Murray Snow in Phoenix backs up allegations that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s critics have made for years that his officers rely on race in their immigration enforcement.

Snow also ruled Arpaio’s deputies unreasonably prolonged the detentions of people who were pulled over.

A small group of Latinos alleged in a lawsuit that Arpaio’s deputies pulled over some vehicles only to make immigration status checks.

The group also accused the sheriff of ordering some immigration patrols not based on reports of crime but rather on letters and e-mails from Arizonans who complained about people with dark skin congregating in an area or speaking Spanish.

--more--"

"Bid to force recall of Ariz. sheriff fails" Associated Press, June 01, 2013

PHOENIX — A campaign to force a recall election against the polarizing sheriff of metropolitan Phoenix has failed.

Recall organizers said Thursday that they couldn’t collect enough voter signatures to bring Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to the polls again....

The recall effort began just weeks after the 80-year-old Republican sheriff started his sixth term in January.

--more--"

Also see: Arizona Again