You are here: Home » News » Crime » Sheriff Arpaio Says He Will Co-operate With Reformers

Sheriff Arpaio Says He Will Co-operate With Reformers

Posted by: Linda Carbonell on February 7, 2012.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Maricopa County Arizona’s infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio first claimed that the investigation into accusations of violations of civil rights by his department were part of President Obama’s re-election campaign strategy. That claim was of-a-piece with the allegations that President Obama is courting the “illegal alien” vote by allowing lawsuits that challenge “papers please” and restrictive voter ID laws. Yeah, all 11 million illegal immigrants are just chomping at the bit to vote for him, and it’s just a myth that they do everything they can to stay under the law enforcement radar.

Arapiao has done an about face on this and his office issued a statement saying that the department and the Department of Justice are “committed to avoiding unnecessary and expensive litigation by the creation of an endforceable agreement which will lead to sustainable reforms and positive results for all citizens of Maricopa County.”

The initial investigation into hundreds of complaints about the Sheriff’s department showed “a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing,” and the department “engages in racial profiling of Latinos; unlawfully stops, detains, and arrests Latinos; and unlawfully retaliates against individuals who complain about or criticize MCSO’s policies or practices.” The department was also accused of not investigating crimes committed against Latinos, especially rape cases.

Around March 1, Arpaio’s “cold case posse” will be releasing their “shocking” findings in the their investigation into President Obama’s birth certificate and eligibility to be president. Six weeks later, the discussions between the department and the DoJ will be completed and appropriate measures agreed upon to correct the policies that led to this investigation.

It probably has helped the Department of Justice’s position that anti-Hispanic State Senator Russell Pearce lost his recall election and there is increasing interest in recalling Governor Jan Brewer. The citizens of Arizona seem to be getting fed up with living in a paranoid police state where 40% of the state’s population is being treated as subversives and criminals.