Sheriff Arpaio Under Investigation By U.S. Justice Department

Posted by Cara, Feministe at 4:41 PM on March 12, 2009.

Almost a week ago, I shared a petition that demanded an investigation in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s reign of terror in Maricopa County, Arizona.  I am now both absolutely thrilled and admittedly really shocked to share the news that an investigation is now underway!

The U.S. Justice Department has launched a civil-rights investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office after months of mounting complaints that deputies are discriminating in their enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Officials from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division notified Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Tuesday that they had begun the investigation, which will focus on whether deputies are engaging in “patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures.”

An expert said it is the department’s first civil-rights probe related to immigration enforcement.

I’d actually argue that this is only the tip of the iceberg of what Arpaio needs to be investigated for, but the news is excellent nonetheless.  Here’s to hoping that this is a legitimate investigation, which will end in some real results -- preferably, Arpaio’s removal or retirement from his position.

h/t Veronica’s Twitter

Tagged as: discrimination, racism, immigration, crime, prisons, police state

Cara blogs regularly at The Curvature and Feministe.