Arpaio asks for facts to back up civil rights case
PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona sheriff whose office has been accused of a wide range of civil rights violations conditionally agreed Wednesday to take part in discussions with federal officials about ways to correct the alleged violations.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said that his office first needs the U.S. Justice Department to provide facts to back up its allegations that his office racially profiles Latinos, bases immigration enforcement on racially charged citizen complaints and punishes Hispanic jail inmates for speaking Spanish.
"I have a suspicion that politics might be involved in this, but we want to resolve (the case)," Arpaio said.
Joseph Popolizio, one of the lawyers representing the sheriff's office, said in a letter to Justice officials that Arpaio was ready to go to court if federal authorities refuse to provide the information to back up their claims.
The self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America has been a national political fixture who has built his reputation on jailing inmates in tents and dressing them in pink underwear, selling himself to voters as unceasingly tough on crime and pushing the bounds of how far local police can go to confront illegal immigration.
The sheriff's office said it doesn't discriminate against Latinos and that Justice Department didn't provide facts to support its allegation thatArpaio's office has a culture of disregard for basic constitutional rights.
Popolizio said in his letter that constructive talks between Washington and the sheriff's office could occur only if the Justice Department backs up its allegations.
"We are merely requesting the opportunity to conduct our own weighing of the reliability of the evidence in your possession," Popolizio said.
The changes in the sheriff's office that Justice officials were seeking include training in constitutional policing and dealing with jail inmates with limited English skills, collecting data on traffic stops and immigration enforcement, and establishing a comprehensive disciplinary system that permits the public to make complaints against officers without fear of retaliation.
Arpaio's lawyers set a Jan. 18 date for the Justice Department to say whether they would provide the information and believe federal officials could provide that information by March 19.
The civil rights allegations have led some Arpaio critics to call for the sheriff's resignation. Arpaio has said he won't resign and intends to seek a sixth term this year.
Separate from the civil rights probe, a federal grand jury has been investigating Arpaio's office on criminal abuse-of-power allegations since at least December 2009. That grand jury is examining the investigative work of the sheriff's anti-public corruption squad.
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January 5, 2012 @ 9:22 am
The DOJ is is running a railroad on Arpaio. He was cleared of all charges by ICE. So this is more intimidation practices by the Obama and the Holder DOJ. These two are crocks and complete disrespect for the law and more to point the Constitution. They have constantly been engaged in the practice of abuse of power and authority.
IMPEACH OBAMA NOW! ! ! ! ! ! !
January 5, 2012 @ 10:51 am
DON’T DO IT !
January 5, 2012 @ 10:55 am
Don’t back down Sheriff. Of course the DOJ under Holder is going to attack you from all sides because they do not want you to enforce the laws that they do not want enforced. It has been like that from day one that this imposter took office. Same thing with voter ID and all the rest of the stuff that they can use to do their illegal work with.
January 5, 2012 @ 10:59 am
These mindless race based anti-discriminatory laws should all be thrown off the books. They just get in the way of identifying who the real enemy and law breakers are and obviate real civility among the people of this race divided nation. Civility and civil rights 101 is that you do not break into another man’s country and break the very laws that protect him.
Basic law enforcement demands that the criminals be profiled based on illegal activity, and if the profile is an illegal Mexican who can only speak Spanish and runs from the presence of the law then so be it.
If it looks like a duck, acts like duck and your job is to go duck hunting, you do not shoot Dick Cheney or the bald white guy in the bush. The age of emotional political correctness has overtaken the age of reason which has opened our borders and our National integrity to subversion from without and within. It has caused America to drop its guard and drop its shorts to get a butt whipping where a butt wiping is what is called for. But Butt loving Liberals never understand which end is really up. This is what you get when you elect politically correct Liberal Butt heads to run your immigration policy and create laws that protect the criminals and leave the law abiding citizens open to molestation. This is what the Liberal mindset does best, molest the minds, the bodies and the laws of the American people and their sacred institutions of law and order.
January 5, 2012 @ 11:24 am
Okay…..now let me see here. Millions of Latinos are coming into the United States through Arizona. Going after them is “racial profiling and abuse”? So what is Sherrif Joe supposed to do if he intends to follow the laws on the books regarding illegal immigration? Target red-headed white guys???
Obama’s team is scared silly over losing this election and also what Joe turns up in his Cold Case Posse investigation.
January 5, 2012 @ 12:12 pm
hmmmm anything smell fishy about Eric Holder and the DOJ trying to stopSheriff Joe? Pray for the Sheriff and demand Holder be held accountable for his abuse of power and his failure to defend the laws of the USA and for “Fast and Furious” – that fiasco that has cost the lives of border patrol. Eric Holder should be on trial here – not Sheriff Joe! Tell Congress we want that buffoon held accountable and tossed out of office along with the current POTUS both should be serving time in Leavenworth.
January 5, 2012 @ 12:24 pm
Obama is doing this to protect his undocumented democrats who he is counting on to reelect him in November. That is, if Sheriff Joe’s volunteer cold case posse doesn’t find him ineligible.
January 5, 2012 @ 12:38 pm
5 Jan 012-AZ & Disfunctional US DOJ
In recent interview I have become disappointed in Danny Ortega, whom I have the upmost respect for his stand as a Lawyer, on the Civil Right of illegal immigrates. The USA must get tough on illegal immigration/borders and at both the State & Federal levels. Believe Newt Gingrich had one of the best possible solutions to our handling the long term illegal immigrates, after securing our Borders.
It seems that some Latinos Community Leaders [Lawyers & State Senators such asSteve Gallardo] believe it’s Ok for individuals to come into this Country illegally and have full benefits of our US Constitution.
Once the Supreme Court issues a Constitutional Opinion on the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, we will start on the path of correcting many of the illegal immigration problems. Again Newt Gingrich is right about our so called Life Time Appointed Judges, interrupting the US Constitution and not attempt to make law from the Bench. It is provides by the US Constitution, that federal judges shall hold their offices during good behavior; which would directly mean “ETHICAL BEHAVIOR. Each takes an Orth to Uphold the US Constitution and if violated, which the judiciary do daily [review the 9th Circuit and many others] is simply BAD BEHAVIOR! SO REMOVE THEM FROM THE BENCH. Once we have removed ½ dozen or so, the rest will get the message interrupt the CONSTITUTION & STOP MAKING LAW!
January 5, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Does anyone think Mr. Perez of the DOJ is somewhat biased and that maybe the Obama Administration has an agenda? It sure seems unreal that 95% of Blacks can vote for Obama and it is not considered racist yet arresting illegal immigrants in Arizona where 95% of illegals are Latino is racist.
January 5, 2012 @ 12:54 pm
Now Obama and his Chicago thugs want to eliminate voter I.D. requirements so those illegal immigrants can vote for him, that must be racial profiling too.