Ariz. sheriff faces crossroads in civil rights case

[MindMover]

Source: USA Today

PHOENIX – America's self-proclaimed toughest sheriff is fast approaching a crossroads where he must decide either to settle claims that his officers racially profiled Latinos in his trademark immigration patrols — and overhaul his practices — or take his chances at trial.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio faces an April 14 deadline for concluding talks with the U.S. Justice Department to settle a wide range of civil rights allegations, including that the sheriff launched some immigration patrols based on letters from people who complained about people with dark skin congregating in a given area or speaking Spanish but never reporting an actual crime. The sheriff has become nationally known for his tough stance against illegal immigration.

A settlement could lead to changes long sought by Arpaio's critics and short-circuit a separate racial profiling case set for trial this summer. Most police agencies facing similar pressures from the Justice Department opt to settle, but critics wonder whether the sheriff's stubborn streak — a quality that endears him to his supporters — will lead him to confront the allegations in court.

"It makes him a hero," said Antonio Bustamante, a Phoenix civil rights attorney and member of a group of Latino and black leaders calling for an overhaul of Arpaio's policies. "We have a different character as a sheriff."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-31/joe-arpaio-civil-rights/53912354/1?

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I cannot say what I am thinking about this person.....

[MNBrewer]

1. Sheriff Joe should make an appearance in front of a firing squad

after being convicted via due process, that is. Otherwise just send an unmanned drone his way.

[itssimplestupid]

5. How Do I Like This?

[reACTIONary]

7. You reply with "+1" as the Reply title. (nt)

[frogmarch]

2. A few minutes ago on TV

there was something about him on one of those forensics shows. On it I heard he makes male prisoners wear pink underwear (I don't recall if it's ladies' underwear or men's), and the black man who was the focus of the show was wearing pink handcuffs. WTF.

[MADem]

8. He makes 'em wear pink everything.

Supposedly, he was pissed off that people were stealing the prison issue drawers and socks and unis that they handed out, so he made them pink so the 'manly men' wouldn't want to swipe them.

Other prisons did this as well, and guess what happened? Prison pink developed a niche following, much like prison orange did in some circles. Kinda like stealing hotel towels!

He's a putz. He likes to boast that he treats his dogs better than his prisoners, with better food, etc.

Thing is, some of his prisoners aren't convicted of anything--they're awaiting arraignment, or they can't make bail so they are being held for trial, and he's punishing them before they've been found guilty or innocent.

[frogmarch]

10. He's a piece of work, all right.

Pink undies aside, what about the abuse? How can this be legal?

If he ever ends up behind bars himself, he might get a well-deserved "welcome" from the other inmates.

[SkyNeT13]

3. dude is a operating n@zi

plain and simple

[crim son]

4. He's become nationally known not for his stance on immigration, but because

he's an asshole with a brain the size of a pea.

[Zorro]

6. I'd be surprised if he settled

It would be perceived as a sign of weakness by his teabagging supporters.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

9. no, no, him settling would in their eyes be proof of

government meddling with the case and pressuring him to settle against his will

Everybody knows the gov has men in black ready to snatch all things he values if he opposes them to much :p that's what has made him a hero, that he defies them even with such a risk *nods sagely*

[ChazInAz]

11. Bigh Bad Sheriff Joe

The creep's a grandstanding coward. Instead of making any effort to control violent crime, he takes the easy route of high-visibility immigration sweeps, swat-team busts on recreational pot users and medical marijuana dispensaries: hardly high-risk law-enforcement work. My suspicion is that he's going to try for Governor some day, and our state is so Gerrymandered that he'd actually win.

[freshwest]

12. If he goes to trial, he'll use the 'birther' defense to say 'Obama's DOJ is illegal.'