Posted on 06/16/2006 8:40:39 PM PDT by machogirl
Citizens group confronts sheriff on immigrants
'Copwatch' calls for sheriff to release immigrants from jail Friday, June 16, 2006 Members of a citizens group known as Copwatch protested outside Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office Friday morning. They held signs asking Arpaio to release illegal immigrants that his deputies and volunteer posse members have arrested. The arrests came under a state law making it illegal to conspire to smuggle humans into Arizona, or to conspire to be smuggled. Arpaio came down from his 19th floor office in the Wells Fargo Building to let the members of Copwatch present their complaints in person. They told Arpaio that he and County Attorney Andrew Thomas are misintepreting the law, which they claim was intended to apply only to coyotes, or human smugglers. Arpaio responded that with over two dozen immigrants already having pleaded guilty, the justice system has apparently agreed that the law is constitutional.
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Yeah, I can't stand Sheriff Joe. Newsflash, huh? The reason I show up on these threads is to educate people, or at least show another side to this guy.
He's corrupt, Carolyn, plain and simple. He's an elected official who is corrupt, and that bothers me, so I speak up, which I have every right to do.
You can believe the press releases that he puts out and buy his books, or you can do a little homework and check out this guy that you would welcome so heartily into your county.
Guess I'm just a little more discerning than you about who I give the reins of power to.
Well since I don't WORK in the building, it'd be pretty hard for me gain access to those records, now wouldn't it? However, he's an elected official and as a citizen of Maricopa County, I can voice my opinion.
Jun. 17, 2006 12:00 AM
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio seemed nonplussed when the crowd he expected to protest his policy of arresting illegal immigrants turned out to be seven people.
"Where's the big protest?" Arpaio said to folks holding signs at his downtown Phoenix offices. Phoenix Copwatch spokesman Sean Whitcomb said most members were working.
"But we're here to say you're misusing the law meant to go after immigrant smugglers," Whitcomb said.
In August, Arizona legislators passed an anti-human-smuggling statute. Later, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said undocumented immigrants suspected of paying coyotes could be prosecuted as conspirators.
"I have the right to enforce the law; you have the right to protest," Arpaio said. "I arrest more illegal immigrants each day than you have protesters."
When you present everyone with facts, personal experience (with all the facts pro and con) and not rumors then so-be-it.
Kim Smith, Tribune
June 15, 2004
First, the undercover officer handed the suspected prostitute $40. Then he undressed. There was dirty talk, kisses and a massage. Finally, the woman agreed to perform a sex act for an additional $100.
The deal done, the woman should've been hauled off in handcuffs — the charge: Solicitation of prostitution, prosecutors say.
Instead, the posse member continued playing his role for several more minutes, stopping just shy of intercourse.
Nearly 60 women arrested in November during a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office prostitution sting will not be prosecuted because the investigators went too far, the county attorney’s office announced Tuesday.
More than 70 people were arrested Nov. 13 on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution or operating a house of prostitution as part of Operation House Call and Operation Destiny — touted as possibly the nation's largest single-day crackdown on the illicit sex trade.
Authorities said many of the women arrested were operating brothels out of middle-class homes and massage parlors throughout the Valley. More than 30 homes and 10 massage parlors were raided.
In announcing that the women would not be prosecuted, a news release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said, "the techniques utilized by the undercover sheriff's deputies and posse members undermines prosecution by reducing the likelihood of conviction."
Records detail instances in which deputies or posse members fondled the breasts and genitals of the women and allowed the women to touch their penises with their mouths and hands — all in the hopes of convincing the women they were not law enforcement officers.
Officers going nude is unacceptable, said Barnett Lotstein, special assistant county attorney. Participating in sex acts is that much worse.
"This behavior is not appropriate. We don't approve of it and we never authorized it. I want to make that clear," Lotstein said. "I have never read a report where a law enforcement or a representative went as far as these people did."
The sheriff's captain who organized the sting operation, however, said several prosecutors knew what tactics would be used.
"They had full knowledge of our plan to be nude," said Capt. Don Schneidmiller. "We met with them right from the beginning and more than once. At no point did anybody, anybody, tell me ‘You don't want to do this.’ "
Any touching that was done was initiated by the targets of the sting and there were "mechanisms in place to minimize it and put an end to it," Schneidmiller said.
Schneidmiller declined to elaborate on what behavior was considered acceptable, noting that to do so would give prostitutes the ability to change their behavior accordingly.
He did say, however, that the techniques employed by the posse members and deputies are "consistent" with those used elsewhere in the country.
"I stand behind what my guys did," Schneidmiller said. "You can't be effective now by using what was used eight years ago. I think we're right on track. I'm proud of what we're doing. I have no regrets about any aspect of this operation."
As long as prostitution is against the law, the sheriff's office will continue to make arrests, said Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
"I do my job, politics or no politics and I will continue to do my job, politics or no politics," Arpaio said.
The decision not to prosecute had nothing to do with the sheriff's office, Lotstein said.
In fact, many of the customers arrested during the sting operation have been prosecuted successfully because there were no credibility issues with those cases, Lotstein said.
"This was a substantive issue, not a political issue," Lotstein said. "We would not prosecute any case from any agency using these tactics."
So they stopped short of intercourse, and I guess BJs aren't really sex anymore (thanks, Bill) so technically you're right. It's still unacceptable. And the whole thing was a publicity stunt - in my OPINION.
"Well since I don't WORK in the building, it'd be pretty hard for me gain access to those records, now wouldn't it?"
Voice your opinion all you want--it's America. But now
we now it is an opinion based on nothing.
You call other people liars at the drop of a hat, but I'll not stoop to that with you. However, some of YOUR facts are incorrect - such as the James Seville case. It's been to trial, Arpaio was found guilty of setting that kid up, and now that verdict alone will cost us Maricopa County citizens MILLIONS.
And the denial-of-water story happened the other day supposedly, so you may not be familiar with that particular allegation. It may have only been a one-time thing. However, it's still despicable.
Because he keeps thugs other municipalities release in 2 or 3 days under wraps. Crime is so endemic in this country that this policy would have the same result even in the high desert of Montana. The amount of people in jail has nothing to do with grumpy Joe Arpaio, and everything to do with the high incidence of crime.
And your glowing opinion of The Jokester is based on what? His press releases?
And in YOUR world, it's okay if the cafeteria that supplies the food in Tent City is run by one of Joe's relatives? Was it an open bid I wonder, or did he just GIVE that contract to his brother-in-law? Hmmm, inquiring minds want to know...
Ah, but he also deliberately closes a floor in Madison or shuts down a wing in Durango if it means Tent City will not be at capacity. Gotta justify his title.
Well at least Joe stopped you from drinking, right? See, he's good for something. :^)
Tent City is expanding to meet the influx of illegal immigrants.
There are plans to add 11 new tents, I believe, and the bunks are three-high now instead of standard doubles.
There will be plenty of room!
Has anyone heard whether the tent city is compliant with the fire codes yet, or are they still in violation? C'mon its been like thirteen years, I hope they pass soon.
Incarcerated criminals deserve no expectation for better quarters than our serving military. Closing a floor in Madison or shutting down a wing in Durango is appropriate, and should be emulated nationwide.
For what its worth, I have a clean record, I have held a secret clearance and am undergoing another one with the US State Department.
Its very cowardly and lazy on your part to resort to calling Arpiao's detractors criminals. Read up. Go to www.phoenixnewtimes.com and pull up the articles by John Dougherty going back over 10 years.
Do some research instead of throwing out lazy cheap shots.
So they stopped short of intercourse, and I guess BJs aren't really sex anymore (thanks, Bill)...
Nobody got a "BJ." Captain Schneidmiller was the officer who briefed us prior to the detail. One thing he emphasized was "You will NOT complete the act. Let me repeat that. YOU. WILL. NOT. COMPLETE. THE. ACT." He pointed out that if we completed a sex act with these women we would be arrested. So when you said "They waited until AFTER they had sex with the prostitutes to arrest them!" you were lying because this is untrue. And if you would throw that lie out there, what other lies have you posted here?
...so technically you're right. It's still unacceptable.
WHAT is unacceptable? Prostitution sting operations? Why?
To #167:
For the record, I have NEVER been incarcerated...in Arizona, or ANYWHERE, and I resent that insinuation.
Good for you. How about your family and friends? Any of those ever been arrested? In fact, let's ask another question - why do you have such a big problem with our Sheriff? And don't tell me it's because he's a yellow-bellied sapsucker or whatever. What is your PERSONAL problem with him, and why do you feel such a need to try to disparage his character?
You call other people liars at the drop of a hat, but I'll not stoop to that with you. However, some of YOUR facts are incorrect - such as the James Seville case. It's been to trial, Arpaio was found guilty of setting that kid up, and now that verdict alone will cost us Maricopa County citizens MILLIONS.
The only reference I could find was this extremely biased web page that discussed a criminal trial where the jury found Mr. Seville not guilty. There is a hint of a lawsuit in progress (the page is dated March, 2005), but no evidence that "Arpaio was found guilty." Are you talking about another case? When was Sheriff Arpaio "found guilty?"
And the denial-of-water story happened the other day supposedly, so you may not be familiar with that particular allegation.
I have never heard of such a thing before and I doubt very much that it's true. Do you have a link to a news story about it?
To #175:
For what its worth, I have a clean record, I have held a secret clearance and am undergoing another one with the US State Department.
Good for you.
Its very cowardly and lazy on your part to resort to calling Arpiao's detractors criminals.
I didn't say they were all criminals. I said this:
I believe that many of Sheriff Arpaio's critics (or their family or friends) have been his guests at the County Crossbar Motel. That's just a personal observation.
I stand by that statement because I haven't seen any evidence to the contrary. Why would someone be so vocally opposed to the Sheriff (or to anyone else for that matter) if they had never had any dealings with him and knew no one who had? It just makes sense that there would be a reason behind the hatred.
Go to www.phoenixnewtimes.com...
No thank you. That leftist rag is full of lies and innuendo, and I won't have anything to do with it. Do you have any more reputable sources?
Do some research instead of throwing out lazy cheap shots.
You're the one who posted the following:
Remember when he installed a web cam in the women's jail right above the toilet?
Yes, there was a webcam. No, it was't above the toilets. You, sir, are a liar. How's that? Neither lazy nor cheap.
Look it up, the webcam was there.
And, Joe did a phoney investigation of Saban, said he molested his mother, and leaked it to a channel 15 reporter (who was fired over the incident).
You are in cultlike denial.
If you would read the investigations against Joe, see the lawsuits and the tens of millions he has cost us with his mismanagement and the mean spirited vengeance filled way he does his job, you might think differently.
But the key word is "think", something you aren't doing.
Oh, and you have nothing, so you want to go after my friends and family's record? Go ahead, they are all clean, and you are pathetic for having to dig that low in the mud.
I have a problem with the sherrif because I don't care for his corruption and intimidation, and I live in a country where you can have an opinion without some chucklehead accusing you of being a criminal.
That's a bunch of crap. There's no proof at all that Andrew Thomas did anything illegal or even unethical. That's just people, such as yourself, spreading trash because they don't like his work.
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