Justice Department: Arizona Sheriff Arpaio violated federal law

The Washington Times ^ | December 15, 2011 | Jerry Seper

[markomalley]

The Justice Department, following an often hostile three-year investigation, said Thursday the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) in Phoenix under the leadership of Sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio violated federal law and the Constitution in its handling of persons arrested and inmates held in its jail system.

Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez, who heads the department’s Civil Rights Division, said investigators concluded there was reasonable cause to believe that sheriff’s deputies engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional conduct and violations of federal law that jeopardized the agency’s commitment to fair and effective law enforcement.

The not-unexpected decision said investigators found discriminatory policing practices including unlawful stops, detentions and arrests of Latinos; unlawful retaliation against persons exercising their First Amendment right to criticize the agency’s policies or practices, including its discriminatory treatment of Latinos; and discriminatory jail practices against Latino inmates with limited English proficiency by punishing them and denying them critical services.

[tioga]

They arrest Joe and the headlines WILL sink the reelection of their master....the peculator in chief, the big O. Bring it on.

[SF_Redux]

sounds like a location, we are looking to move anyway

[tioga]

Excellent limner! Love it.

[Yulee]

“They should accuse the sheriff’s office of having automatic weapons then blockade and burn his headquarters down along with anyone trapped inside.”

I thought only Janet Reno could get away with that, but just wait and see what the latest version of Big Brother can come up with.

[SandRat]

Love the cartoon.

[GregNH]

So “the investigation remains ongoing”...meaning the timing of this “announcement” of nothing is very suspicious and points towards it being yet another “don't go there” directed at Arpaio’s eligibility posse, IMO.

The good ole Sheriff strikes me as someone you don't want to taunt. To put it another way may I quote someone we all know, "Bring it on."

[Red Steel]

NBC News a few minutes ago said that the Holder Justice Dept. will sue Arpaio 2 months from now if he doesn’t make changes.

Doesn’t make changes? Holder will Suuuuuuuuueee...

Holder doesn’t have nada.

Hmmmmmm.. That’s when Arpaio has said is when the Posse will release the Obama investigation.

[Munz]

and there you have it.
Obama is going to try and silence him

the problem is that Obama going up against this guy .. obama is out of his league.

Arpaaio is a REAL Sheriff and is the Chief LEO in his County. Eric Holder doesn’t stand a chance in his county and they can’t touch him there. The Sheriff may have to lock himself down in his own Jail but it won’t matter to him.

They won’t take him, they can’t take him and he will prevail.

[marstegreg]

I find that the fact the media has been silent on Arpaio’s Obama investigation reveals their intention to ignore it altogether and only print things that discredit him in case he has really found something (which I believe he has). I find it telling that the article mentions a deal the Feds are trying to make. Why? What would the Sheriff have to bargain with (other than the Birther investigation)? I really hope he can hold out and reveal his findings.

[Seizethecarp]

Thanks for that update!

How much more blatantly obvious can this posse preemption threat to sue be?

[ecinkc]

Isn't it also interesting that the press has been careful to mention that the Justice Dept has been looking into Arpaio's methods for years already.

Now if and when they are feeling they can no longer ignore Arpaio's eligibility investigation/report, they can paint it as though it were a petty retaliatory strike on the part of the Sheriff because he's upset that the Feds have been honing in on him.

Of course the complete opposite is true, but when has "true" mattered to the Government-controlled media?

[Razzz42]

Pres. clit stood by and said he wasn’t a party to that action, was not involved with it, was Reno’s call.

[marstegreg]

Exactly! They want an ace up their sleeve (just in case). Did you see the “creepy email” Obama sent out to supporters mentioning the birth certificate. Why do you suppose HE brought it up again?

In case you missed it:
http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-sends-out-creepy-email-sometime-soon-can-we-meet-for-dinner-2011-9

[marstegreg]

OOps. The right creepy email is this one, Sorry. I didn’t know there were so many!

Friend –

Everyone’s got that special conservative in their life.

Maybe it’s your dad, who forwards you every chain email about the President’s birth certificate, or your neighbor, who just put up a Mitt Romney sign.

Dealing with these folks can be … frustrating.

This holiday season, we’re giving you a chance to have a little bit of fun at their expense. Let a Republican in your life know they inspired you to make a donation to the Obama campaign — chip in $3 or more today.

[BCR #226]

The justice department accuses someone of violating federal law??? This coming from the same people that violated ITAR, several sections of the 1968 GCA, Conspired to commit murder, committed an unwarranted act of war on a neighboring country, committed Treason, conspired to deprive American Citizens of their Civil Rights, lied before Congress under oath, and many, many more laws... they have the audacity to make such a statement about another law enforcement officer?

Wow, some people really do need to be taken out behind the wood shed for a lesson in proper manners.

[Vickery2010]

“In June 2008, the Justice Department began its investigation of MCSO.”

http://www.justice.gov/crt/opa/pr/speeches/2011/crt-speech-111215.html

Not only has the investigation been going on for years, long prior to Arpaio expressing interest in Obama’s birth certificate, but it began when President Bush was still in office.

[Vickery2010]

The “no formal findings” sentence refers only to the accusations immediately preceding it (i.e., Use of excessive force; Police practices that have the effect of significantly compromising MCSO’s ability to adequately protect Latino residents; and Failure to adequately investigate allegations of sexual assaults.)

There *were* formal findings of pattern or practice violations with regard to:

- Discriminatory policing practices including unlawful stops, detentions and arrests of Latinos;
-Unlawful retaliation against individuals exercising their First Amendment right to criticize MCSO’s policies or practices, including but not limited to practices relating to its discriminatory treatment of Latinos; and
- Discriminatory jail practices against Latino inmates with limited English proficiency by punishing them and denying them critical services.
- A failure to implement policies guiding deputies on lawful policing practices;
- Allowing specialized units to engage in unconstitutional practices;
- Inadequate training;
- Inadequate supervision;
- An ineffective disciplinary, oversight and accountability system; and
- A lack of sufficient external oversight and accountability.

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/December/11-crt-1645.html

[PA-RIVER]

This is cute.

My 5 year old daughter told me this morning that next November we will have a new president. Here's the kicker. The 5 year old girl next door told her this at school.

It seems the cat is out of the bag. Even 5 year old kids know he's getting fired.

[marstegreg]

I don’t think even voter fraud can distance the gap!

[Jane Austen]

Interesting points.