Posted on 04/26/2008 10:34:35 AM PDT by John Jorsett
GUADALUPE, Ariz. (AP) - The self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff in America" has been making forays into Phoenix and nearby Guadalupe and sweeping up illegal immigrants, drawing howls of protest from the cities' mayors and other community leaders.
While Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has legal authority to enforce the law in cities within his county, politicians and activists are accusing him of grandstanding and, worse, racial profiling.
A total of 150 people—73 of them illegal immigrants—were arrested by Arpaio's deputies in the raids on heavily Hispanic sections in late March and early April.
"I was upset. We did not request them here," said Guadalupe Mayor Rebecca Jimenez, who charged that the patrols were meant to raise Arpaio's profile for his re-election campaign this year.
Guadalupe, a community of about 6,000 people that relies on the sheriff's office for police protection, is taking steps to find another department to patrol its streets.
As for Phoenix, Mayor Phil Gordon said Arpaio should be concentrating on more pressing duties such as finding people with warrants against them, and he has asked for a federal civil rights investigation, complaining the sheriff is singling out people who are "driving with a broken taillight or have brown skin." The U.S. Justice Department refused to comment.
And in Mesa, Arizona's third-largest city, the police chief has requested two days' notice of any sweeps Arpaio might conduct there, so that his officers can be prepared for any unrest.
Arpaio has long had a reputation for in-your-face tactics. He is known for making jail inmates wear pink underwear, assigning them to old- style chain gangs, and serving them green bologna sandwiches.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Then I suggest we dispense with McCain then. I can do without that traitorous bastard on the ticket.
Except for the fact that I like what he is doing there as Sheriff, I would think he could win a higher office on the national scale, like Congress.
Lefties hate Joe. That’s reason enough for me to admire him.
Throw in leftist RATS, and the answer is “at least”.
Flavor of the year?
GO JOE you are the best!!!!!
Chelsea Clinton recently asked an Iraq war marine how he felt about the war and if he was scared in combat. He answered her very well. “Young girl there are only three things in life that scare me. “Osama, Obama and your mama”.
LOL....That is so good !!!
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