Anyone who's followed the Sheriff Joe Arpaio saga in Arizona knows racial profiling was one of his tactics. I mean, come on -- sweep through a neighborhood or business and only round up brown people? Stop drivers for speeding or a busted taillight, and only ask dark-skinned folks for their citizenship papers? Well, today, after an investigation that lasted more than three years, during which more than 400 people were interviewed, the Department of Justice released its findings:
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday morning accused the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office of racial profiling in traffic stops and immigration operations and discriminating against Spanish speakers in the county jails. Arizona Republic
Speaking to a packed press conference this morning, Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said the findings were not based on one or two incidents, but on a "culture of disregard for the constitution." No kidding.
The findings, which Mr. Arpaio is sure to contest, paint a picture of a department staffed by poorly trained deputies who target Latino drivers on the roadways and detain innocent Latinos in the community in their searches for illegal immigrants. The mistreatment, the government said, extends to the jails the department oversees, where Latino inmates who do not speak English were mistreated. New York Times
According to the Justice Department, Arpaio:
• routinely stopped Hispanic drivers without probable cause (4 to 9 times more often than other drivers);
• punished Hispanic inmates who did not understand English;
• used excessive force against arrested and detained Hispanics;
• retaliated against human rights advocates (arrests, lawsuits, etc.);
• failed to provide proper training to his deputies in order to avoid civil rights abuses.
Arpaio has until January 4 to decide whether he will cooperate with the Feds, who demanded that he "come to a voluntary court-enforceable agreement to stop the unconstitutional practices," or else he'll face a lawsuit. The Sheriff's office has not yet responded to the ultimatum, but it's not likely Arpaio will bend over willingly. Heck, he stalled the DOJ probe a year and a half by refusing to turn over documents, so don't expect a swift mea culpa.
UPDATE (h/t AnnetteK): As a result of the DOJ's findings Homeland Security Secretary, and former Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano just eliminated the 287(g) program from Arpaio's jails. Her statement:
Discrimination undermines law enforcement and erodes the public trust. DHS will not be a party to such practices. Accordingly, and effective immediately, DHS is terminating MCSO's 287(g) jail model agreement and is restricting the Maricopa County Sherriff's Office access to the Secure Communities program. New Times
More to come?
These charges are separate from another DOJ investigation into abuse of powers that's been underway for nearly as long. This probe stems from the indictments and other harassments that Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas leveled against their political enemies -- from judges to elected officials. Thomas is currently in court, fighting to save his legal hide, after the bar association filed dozens of ethics complaints against him and two assistants.
The abuse of powers probe picked up steam last year when former Arpaio deputy Frank Munnell released a scathing report covering the criminal and unethical behaviors endemic in the Sheriff's office. That report resulted in the firing of Arpaio's two senior deputies, although he was cleared of wrongdoing by an "investigation" conducted by his friend (and Arpaio wannabe) Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
The 9th Circuit Court also just announced they will reexamine a lawsuit that was filed by New Times, after Arpaio had the paper's editor and publisher rounded up in the middle of the night in 2007 over a story he did not appreciate. He then demanded the email addresses and IP accounts of everyone who had visited the New Times website! Talk about a police state.
The wheels of justice are turning very slowly and it's taken a while, during which countless people were falsely arrested while others were beaten or even killed while in the Sheriff's custody. Arpaio, who turns 80 soon, has announced he will run for another four-year term in 2012. Let's hope today's news, combined with other findings from the second probe, render him unelectable -- even in red-meat Maricopa County, where the wingers and retirees love the old coot's get-tough attitude. Just visit the Arizona Republic's comment section today if you want to see the crazies in action. Second comment:
This is a bullying attempt by the Feds. Joe would never discriminate, he only goes after law-breakers and those illegals break many, many laws. You people need to stop harassing Joe especially you people who are making up these sexual abuse claims.
Nah, he'd "never discriminate." And those 400+ victims of sex crimes made it up! Hey a-hole, even Arpaio admitted he blew that one. He could fuck his grandmother on the Capitol steps and the goobers would find a way to blame it on someone other than Arpaio.