- Maricopa County Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is under federal investigation for possible constitutional violations and discrimination. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is looking into whether his office is engaging in “patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures.” Arpaio bills himself as “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” though he may be the country’s most expensive sheriff. The people of the county will now have to pay from additional legal costs as Arpaio again defends himself against allegations of abuse. In the meantime, a recent report indicates that Arpaio is too busy to serve felony warrants in his county.
Arpaio has long been criticized for pandering for media attention, often using inmates as props and backdrops for his self-marketing. Most recently, Arpaio was able to secure his own reality show with Fox called “Smile: You’re Under Arrest.”
Strangely, in Fox’s story on Arpaio being the target of federal investigation, it does not mention the show.
Arpaio portrays himself as a tough guy sheriff by implementing juvenile measures like making jail inmates eat green bologna sandwiches and wear pink underwear. Most recently, he has been chasing illegal immigrants. The problem is that there are about 59,000 outstanding, unserved felony warrants in the state. and the majority are in Maricopa County. So, America’s Toughest Sheriff has proven a felon’s best friend. While courting television producers and media in his crackdown on illegal immigrants, tens of thousands of felons are roaming the county because serving warrants appears a bit too mundane for Hollywood Joe Arpaio.
For the full story, click here.