Thousands march against Arpaio and his racist pig followers

[Craneman 2]

I for one, lived in Phonix for 2 years, this guy is doing great job, treat criminals like criminals, you do not like jail, do not come back.

This ain't your mamas house.

[Craneman 2]

America's Worst Sheriff (Joe Arpaio)

Editorial Board, NYT

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., which includes Phoenix and its sprawling surroundings, is an aggressive self-promoter with a new claim to fame: a reality show on Fox called "Smile … You're Under Arrest!" It's a "Candid Camera" for crooks, with actors luring fugitives into compromising situations, for laughs.

It's easy to snicker at the sight of a publicity-addicted law-enforcement official wallowing with the dregs of reality TV, sharing a channel with shows like "My Bare Lady," "The Glutton Bowl" and "World Famous for Dicking Around."

But Sheriff Arpaio is armed and dangerous. He is a genuine public menace with a long and well-documented trail of inmate abuses, unjustified arrests, racial profiling, brutal and inept policing and wasteful spending.

For years he has won fawning press coverage by playing the role of "America's Toughest Sheriff." But now another side of the story — that is, the truth — is leaking out.

The latest example is a report released this month that sums up, in devastating detail, the cost of Sheriff Arpaio's reign. It was issued not by the sheriff's usual critics — whom he routinely dismisses as a band of bleeding-hearts — but by the Goldwater Institute, a think tank dedicated to the principles of the late Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, an obelisk of conservatism.

.....

Read a summary here, or the full pdf.

Here's the gist.

What has risen on Sheriff Arpaio's watch: violent crimes (up 69 percent overall from 2004 to 2007, with homicides up 166 percent in those three years), 911 response times, unserved arrest warrants, racist sweeps of Latino neighborhoods, and dollars paid out in budget overruns, overtime and lawsuit settlements.

What has declined: the arrest rate, the number of satellite booking stations, public access to department records, Sheriff Arpaio's reputation.

The Goldwater report must bring some comfort to the residents of Maricopa County who have spent years raising the alarm about Sheriff Arpaio, with little effect outside Arizona.

They include a Web site, barriozona.com, that has tracked the sheriff's terrorizing sweeps through Latino neighborhoods, and a dogged reporter, Stephen Lemons of The Phoenix New Times, who keeps the heat on Sheriff Arpaio in his blog. Mr. Lemons recently posted some chilling video from a public meeting of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, where Sheriff Arpaio's deputies arrested citizens … for clapping.

Sheriff Arpaio was elected to a fifth term in November and is riding high, at least in the worlds of bad policing and jackass television.

But pride, they say, goes before a fall. Here's hoping!

http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/...arpaio/?apage=3

NYT, now there is an unbiased source.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If only it that were the only one.

Edited March 5, 2009 by Paul Daniels

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Arpaio's "crime suppression" sweep results murky

PHOENIX - Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has touted his recent "crime-suppression" sweeps in immigrant gathering spots and neighborhoods as necessary to lower crime and send a message that illegal immigrants won't be tolerated.

But the results of his first six major operations are mixed, according to a review of crime statistics by The Arizona Republic. And street-corner gathering spots for day laborers are still bustling, sometimes just days after one of his highly publicized sweeps.

The sheriff's stated goals for the sweeps he began in March are to improve public safety and suppress crime, plus drive out illegal immigrants.

The crime reduction, at least, doesn't appear to be major.

Records show that in four of five smaller areas where sweeps occurred, calls for assistance increased or were relatively flat right after the raid compared with the same period a year earlier. In the other area, they declined.

In neighborhoods of north and east Phoenix, data show that total violent crimes increased after deputies conducted saturation raids. In Fountain Hills, sheriff's statistics show deputies dealt with more major crimes this June than they did in June 2007, yet fewer overall crimes.

The six operations involved hundreds of sworn deputies putting in thousands of work days. They arrested about 400 people, including more than 200 suspected illegal immigrants. There are an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona, with most in metropolitan Phoenix. Assuming 300,000 live in the Maricopa County, the saturation patrols netted only a tiny fraction of the total.

Arpaio argues that his operations have scared many immigrants out of the state, a fact backed anecdotally by interviews with some day laborers. But it may be impossible to separate the effects of sweeps from other factors, such as the economy, employer sanctions, anti-smuggling enforcement and stepped-up federal detention policies.

Arpaio's actions have brought him strong support from many, but also strident criticism.

"I love Joe. He's the kind of guy we need," said Russell Schmunk, 85, of Cave Creek. "We don't need no pansies, guys who slap your wrist . . . I hope he sweeps it clean, sweeps everybody out."

Slade Grove, a bakery owner who signed a petition asking deputies to raid day-labor hangouts on Cave Creek Road, said he's satisfied.

"Arpaio sent a message that he was going to enforce the laws," Grove said.

Others, including civil libertarians and Latino leaders, claim the tactic amounts to unconstitutional racial profiling. Arpaio denies the charge.

Melissa Jones, an employee at a cleaners in east Phoenix, said Arpaio's raid in her neighborhood had nothing to do with stopping crime.

"Prejudice. Being racist. That's what it's all about," Jones said. "I think he needs to do his job and get real criminals off the streets. All (immigrants) are doing is trying to make money for survival."

Guadalupe Mayor Rebecca Jimenez has characterized an April sweep in her community as a media stunt that wound up hassling local residents over minor traffic violations. Arpaio subsequently decided to cancel his office's law-enforcement contract with Guadalupe, and the town then sued, arguing he must finish out the contract through 2010.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has requested a Justice Department investigation of Arpaio's campaign against illegal immigration. In an August speech, Gordon blasted the Sheriff's Office for undermining law enforcement by arresting undocumented immigrants who are victims of crime.

"If the victim of a sexual assault is in the country illegally, it's more important for us to catch the rapist than to turn the victim over to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)," the mayor said.

Arpaio spokesman Capt. Paul Chagolla said the sweeps are part of a comprehensive approach to crime that includes illegal immigration. "There is an impact on crime" when one considers the broader approach, which also involves jail screening and the human-smuggling unit, he said.

Arpaio, who declined to be interviewed for the Republic's story, is sticking to the sweeps.

"The people of this county, poll after poll, said they want local law enforcement to be involved in fighting this increased problem of illegal immigration," he said in April. "Their voice is what I listen to."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/related/98653

[Danno 1,228]

For those crybabies who don't appreciate the Good Sheriff,

The People in his area voted for "CHANGE" when they voted for him.

If you don't like it, don't move there.

Don't stand in the way of him doing the job he was sent to do.

Edited March 5, 2009 by Danno

[HAL 9000 96]

I for one, lived in Phonix for 2 years, this guy is doing great job, treat criminals like criminals, you do not like jail, do not come back.

This ain't your mamas house.

Where's Phonix?

For those crybabies who don't appreciate the Good Sheriff,

The People in his area voted for "CHANGE" when they voted for him.

If you don't like it, don't move there.

Don't stand in the way of him doing the job he was sent to do.

Ah yes... so if you don't like it and aren't there, stfu huh? Sounds very democratic... so... on every other issue you try to impose your feelings and beliefs since you aren't there... stfu.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

For those crybabies who don't appreciate the Good Sheriff,

The People in his area voted for "CHANGE" when they voted for him.

If you don't like it, don't move there.

Don't stand in the way of him doing the job he was sent to do.

Why not?

People have a right to protest policies that they disagree with.

If the closet sadists who are in love with the sheriff don't like criticism of this man (or find it otherwise inconvenient), then perhaps they shouldn't read it.

Edited March 5, 2009 by Paul Daniels

[Peikko 1,575]

For those crybabies who don't appreciate the Good Sheriff,

The People in his area voted for "CHANGE" when they voted for him.

If you don't like it, don't move there.

Don't stand in the way of him doing the job he was sent to do.

I don't think anyone is standing in the way of him doing his job, he seems to be ###### that up all on his own.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Am I the only one here wondering why noone has presented a concrete justification of why they think the sheriff is doing a good job?

I don't think that's because there isn't one - but rather because his fans are in love with what sheriff Joe represents - the image of a strong, uncompromising law enforcement figure who takes no prisoners, and less in his record of success.

The two people quoted in that article I posted seem to reflect that view - that because Joe is seen to be taking strong, decisive action it must follow that he is being successful in what he is doing. From what I've read, that just doesn't seem to be the case.

[HAL 9000 96]

By now crime should be nonexistent in Maricopa since his means have yielded the desired ends.

[panamania79 2]

Sheriff Arpaio was elected to a fifth term in November and is riding high, at least in the worlds of bad policing and jackass television.

Won five elections? The people in Arizona are idiots because those folks in NYC know more about the local crime situation in Maricopa County.

Hey...we also elected Ev Mecham as Governor so you can't expect too much from Zonies.

Hell someone re-elected Blagojevich.

And remember Marion Barry the crackhead mayor of DC ?