Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been the right-wing poster boy for tough law enforcement. Subjecting his prisoners to spoiled food, tent villages in scorching heat, pink underwear, and then launching criminal investigations against public officials who challenged him just added to his “Walking Tall,” tough-cop credentials among his backers. He also is the moving force behind Arizona’s tough anti-immigration law backing Governor Jan Brewer in her “Show Me Ze Papers” campaign against Mexican immigrants. Now it seems the worm has turned, and Maricopa County officials are wondering why Arpaio needs to keep two sets of books.
A hidden database located on a secure computer in the Sheriff’s Office details staff assignments and payments at odds with those provided to County auditors. The information was disclosed in another lawsuit concerning alleged racial profiling by Sheriff’s deputies. According to the Arizona Republic, “County administrators believe the Sheriff’s Office intentionally misappropriated as much as $80 million designated for jail operations over five years to pay employees working in patrol, human-smuggling operations and investigative units. Those employees should have been paid with other funds, but county officials suspect the Sheriff’s Office tried to maintain staffing levels by using money that legally was inaccessible.” Through a spokesman, Arpaio defends the discovery as “….confusion on a lack of compatible technology between the Sheriff’s Office and other county agencies.”
The local U.S. Attorney and Maricopa County attorneys are working together to deputize federal prosecutors to man the probe, a unusual step to say the least. According to County officials, Arizona statutes involving “… misappropriation of restricted funds; stealing, destroying, altering or secreting public records; malfeasance in public office; theft; and tampering with computers and public records” may come into play.
Funny how the smallest lures catch the biggest fish sometimes.
Source: Arizona Republic
–Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
“Prop. 200”, “House Bill 2013″ and “SB1070″
0 = Arizona
3 = USA/ Our Constitution/ We the People of the United States
We are a country that is ruled by the Constitution (with all Amendments), and the Declaration of Independence, not by the majority of the day. When the uneducated do not know the principles in these documents, therein lays the problem in losing, so no one should be surprised when the dullards lose in court after being smartly challenged.
Last month of October 2010, our Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Arizona’s requirement that people show proof of citizenship to register to vote or the 2004, “Prop. 200”. In the month of July 2010, our U.S. Federal courts have found the so called State of Arizona hate filled legislation namely “House Bill 2013″ and “SB1070″ Un-constitution (So much for the intellect of Jan Brewer, “Did you read the bills you signed?”). But we all know that they will go crying to the Supreme Court of the United States, please, please, please go. We will fight you in Arizona, any other state, and yes in Washington DC. We will not tire, we will not be silent and we will persevere, I promise you.
In my opinion the Republican Party has been taken over the most extreme of clans; the Baggers, Birthers and Blowhards (people who love to push their beliefs and hate on others while trying to take away the rights of those they just hate) and that’s who they need to extract from their party if they real want to win in November. Good Luck, because as they said in WACO, “We Ain’t Coming Out”.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of these laws, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO! You were all wrong then and you are wrong now!
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by people of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all people are created equal, and that the rights of every person are diminished when the rights of one person are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis people of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some people comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.
“Through a spokesman, Arpaio defends the discovery as ‘….confusion on a lack of compatible technology between the Sheriff’s Office and other county agencies.’”
The Az Republic reported that the Sheriff’s Office alerted the County Board of Supervisors about this problem years ago. The Republic also reported that the Board has not done its job overseeing the Sheriff’s Office and other County Agencies that have a similar problem. My opinion is that the Republic’s bias against the Sheriff has resulted in its not fully investigating the Board’s shortcomings.
“The local U.S. Attorney and Maricopa County attorneys are working together to deputize federal prosecutors to man the probe, a[n] unusual step to say the least.”
I have no idea if it is unusual, but the reason for it is that the Interim County Attorney has a conflict because he was working (as a lawyer) for the Board when the Board appointed him to that position.
The issue with respect to the allegation of two sets of books (as I understand it) is that the Sheriff’s Office may have spent money earmarked for use only on jail expenses on law enforcement activity. Maybe that is a crime and maybe it will be proven to be true. My comments are intended to inform people of the facts (as reported in the local news) not to advocate for or against the Sheriff.
Prison or jail is prison or jail as long as he goes.
ekeyra
“Send him to his own tent city so he can wear pink underwear and sweat with the rest of the people he put there.”
———
That would be fine, too. In fact, it would be fitting…
Why do you all want to see him in federal prison? Send him to his own tent city so he can wear pink underwear and sweat with the rest of the people he put there.
The whole point of this is to divert money away from certain prison expenses that he is ideologically opposed to, like food and medical care for his prisoners.
Buckeye
“I’d rather see him spend it in the prison he currently runs.”
———-
Great idea.
Just imagine how much pink underwear you could buy with $80 million!!
BIL
I hope Arpaio spends his retirement in Leavenworth.
——————————————
I’d rather see him spend it in the prison he currently runs.
rc,
In re: residency
A very principled and reasoned stance. My hat is off.
What AY said.
Simple corruption and thievery are the only reason to keep a secret second set of books.
I hope Arpaio spends his retirement in Leavenworth.
Sheriff Joe needs to watch an old movie to find out what happens to racist crooks. “Shawshank Redemption” comes to mind immediately! I think Sheriff Joe will soon become very familiar with it. I wonder how he looks in pink underwear?
The new governor of New Mexico will veto it also. Arizona does seem to be out front on this, and hopefully no one else will follow. Texas and New Mexico would be the most likely places, and the governors have said no.
Swarthmore mom:
“Even Rick Perry says he will veto the Arizona type immigration bill if the republican super majority passes it.”
Interesting…
rcampbell,
This kind of thing is going on in other states, as well, perhaps all of them, IMHO. AZ may be worse, but this kind of garbage is going on nationwide. Hopefully, AZ will be a “tipping point”, but I’m not holding my breath…
Even Rick Perry says he will veto the Arizona type immigration bill if the republican super majority passes it.
As I’ve noted in the past, we are AZ residents. We moved here 34 years ago this week. Of late, because of the blatant racsism, police corruption and anti-education stances of our current state government, I’ve begun referring to this state as Alabama. We have a home in CA and are giving very serious thought to changing our voter registration, etc. CA has a higher personal income tax than AZ (9.2% vs 5.7%), but I’d far rather give the money to Jerry Brown than give a nickel more these cretins. We historically eat out often (avg. 3 times a week), but we’ve curtailed that quite a bit as our own private boycott so that we don’t frequent as many AZ businesses while we’re here.
AY:
I like your analysis.
Its simple. Money In. Money Kept. Money Stole.
“Now it seems the worm has turned, and Maricopa County officials are wondering why Arpaio needs to keep two sets of books.”
I have some thoughts about what he may be hiding, given what I’ve seen the past few years. I would love to see this guy end up in federal prison.