Joe Arpaio Challenges DOJ to Publicly Say He Doesn't Racially Profile -- Even Though Investigation's Still Wide Open

By James King Thu., Aug. 4 2011 at 4:41 PM

Categories: All the Sheriff's Men

Pin It

Joe Arpaio claims he's finally cooperating with the Department of Justice's investigation of alleged racial profiling practices within the MCSO.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio today challenged the Department of Justice "be fair" and publicly say his office doesn't practice racial profiling.

"As a matter of fairness, the DOJ should go public and say we don't racially profile," the sheriff grumbled at a press conference this afternoon, "but I won't hold my breath."

That's probably a good idea -- the DOJ hasn't even come to any conclusion about whether the MCSO practices racial profiling, despite the dismissal of a federal lawsuit against the sheriff earlier this week.

Judge Murray Snow Monday dismissed a DOJ lawsuit against Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office over Arpaio's refusal to cooperate in its investigation into allegations that the MCSO practices racial profiling. The lawsuit may be off, but the investigation is wide open.

Arpaio claims the MCSO's "reluctance" to cooperate with the DOJ stems from a violation of trust after he discovered "Homeland Security and Department of Justice personnel were inappropriately sharing information gleaned in separate private meetings with Sheriff's Office officials."

The MCSO claims it was never uncooperative with the investigation and says it "justifiably wanted the federal government to clearly state what it was here to investigate before [Arpaio] provided more information to federal officials."

Arpaio's attorney, Bill Jones, says the MCSO has now provided the DOJ with 15,000 pages of documents and allowed investigators to interview 230 people -- including jail inmates -- about the MCSO's alleged racial profiling practices.

Again, the lawsuit may be done-zo, but the investigation is not.

So far, Jones says, the DOJ hasn't indicated whether it's uncovered any wrongdoing by Arpaio and his boys in beige -- something he says it would have to do if any violations were discovered. He did stress the fact that there were a lot of documents to look over.

Stay tuned...

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Write Comment

Email to Friend

Print Article

Related Content

LOL - Gerry, you do a very good Arpaio impersonation!
wherewasi, Joe found that illegal immigrants commit 90 pct of the rapes against children in Maricopa County. So, if you bust illegals dishwashing and landscaping, you will be able to deport the rapists and save the expense of a trial and you don't have to pay to investigate these crimes. Well, er...I think that about covers your questions?
So what Joe is saying is that he thinks the DOJ should say their investigation is over (which it isn't) and that they found Arpaio doesn't profile (which he does) before doing a thorough job of looking at all of the facts (unlike Babeau who did not investigate the Shurf but still felt he could publicly claim Arpaio was unaware of his henchmen's crimes). Hmmmmm. Hey Joe! When are you going to announce the status of the "investigation" into Terry Goddard and the AG's office? You know, the one that Andrew Thomas last May said was never an investigation into Terry? The one you got all riled up about and said yes, he was and continues to be under investigation? You know, the investigation you made up in order to conflict Goddard out of investigating the SCA scandal? You know, that same one that you're still trying to sweep under the rug by not taking any action on the Joel Fox matter? You know which one I'm talking about? Yeah, THAT one. Can you tell us what the status of that investigation is? What did you find?
I would guess it is not all of what they asked for. Much of that was shredded pursuant to subpoena in previous cases.
Please excuse the type-o's
Oh really? What is it specfically that you ever disagreed with me on? Every post I posted regarding arpaio is just as blunt as opposing him like everyone else on here.
Smart man.
Shit on Bozo Joe.
Right you are Coz.
"My name is Raul and I'm going to kill your racist fucking Sheriff because he is a racist." Looks like this guy thinks that Joe is a racist.
I don't know that the DOJ or the FBI have made a big public spectacle of this investigation. Most of the status of the investigation and publicity of the investigation comes from Arpaio.
It's what they asked for, hence the reason the lawsuit was dropped. The DOJ is on a fishing expedition now because they can't find what they've been looking for. What's ironic is Hendershott participated in the same type of tactics. I guess what comes around goes around.
"Arpaio's attorney, Bill Jones, says the MCSO has now provided the DOJ with 15,000 pages of documents" And of course this also is a classic way to stall an investigation - simply respond to subpoenas with a truckload of irrelevant documents.
As much as I hate to agree with you, you are right. It's time the DOJ shit or get off the pot.
Like I said, the DOJ is worthless.
In the over 50 million dollars in civil suit payouts to date, you have never heard Bozo Joe come clean about anything, it's always the fault of someone else other than himself or the MCSO Goons.
Not to mention Turf Paradise. Another one of Bozo Joe's major campaign contributors.
Arpaio racially profiles those who a) haven't donated heavily enough to his campaign and b) those who aren't in his Executive Posse. Case in Point: Danny's Car Wash. Arpaio's good buddy and Posse member has NEVER been raided. But plenty of local family owned car washes have. Arpaio...is it because you've been treated like royalty by the Danny's other restaurant/bar ventures? Is it because your buddy donated pretty heavily to your campaign? What's different about Danny's employees than the car wash down the street? Don't want a media spotlight on your friend? You betcha. Otherwise, the deed would have already been done. The media would have followed your pussy posse while they raided numerous locations of Danny's car wash. But you're a chicken and that's the way you operate. You couldn't do that to a supporter regardless of your sense of "fairness" as you tell it. You're an equal opportunity incarcerator? PROVE IT YOU HOT AIR BAG. You really are nothing but a scam. I'm surprised your zip code isn't in India somewhere. Maybe it is.
You mean like his good friend Danny Hendon? Wonder if Danny is still treating the deputies and management to food and drinks at his Scottsdale restaurant/bar? Went by a Danny's recently (didn't stop though) and there looked like it's time for one of Joe's famous raids at Danny's car wash...you know, the kind he likes to get the media attention from. Why not? He raided Danny's competitor car washes...supposedly on a "tip" - in the end that has not seemed to help Danny's too much. So Arpaio....here's A TIP for your immigration hotline. DANNY'S CAR WASH. You gotta know they need CHEAP labor right now. Let's see you bring the big guns out and do a full media blitz on this tip.
HAS ARPAIO gone public and been fair with those he subjected to the criminal investigations by the MACE Unit? Did he clear those people. Did he publicly reveal the results of his "investigations" into county employees? Were THEY ever publicly cleared and did Arpaio come clean? HELL NO.
15,000 documents , what about the thousands this crimanal had desposed of ? Playing stupid when you are in charge of the most populated county in AZ, does not absolve you of your duties ! BURKE DO YOUR JOB !
The DOJ is worthless.
Piss on Bozo Joe
I'll say fuck the DOJ. It's been what? Over 3 years now? I hate to say it or admit it, but arpaio is right. The DOJ needs to step up to the golden plate and say it, or fuck off. All this time they are keeping a tight lip on this. They either need to produce their evidence of racial profilings. Otherwise, they can piss off and quit wasting everybody's time.
close to 500k in chandler a decade or so ago. peace
The Senile Spinster does in fact racially profile people. The $200,000 settlement for the Moras paid for in full by taxpayers is a perfect example.
I agree, I also think the civil suit he just lost is a clear indication of his guilt in the matter. he holds and detains american citizens who have done absolutely nothing wrong, but are simply latino decent in the area of his sting. if that's not racial profiling then I don't understand what that term actually means and someone needs to explain it for me.
Hey Joe...Fuck You!
Joe says this and his lemmings suddenly think the feds have dropped their entire case against him. When the point that the case is still on is made it will be denounced as "liberal media smears".
So Joke wants to Feds to treat him like he treated a certain car wash, and say that he's innocent before the investigation is complete? Joke thinks he can grease the DOJ palms with hair gel?
I'll say it. IMHO, Arpaio's office has engaged in racial profiling. I think Arpaio himself has engaged in playing politics with and inciting racial tensions with his behavior. Hopefully things are changing.