Yesterday, the Arizona Maricopa County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on issues related to the sheriff’s office led by the notorious Joe Arpaio. One of the problems to be discussed was the ongoing Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), which was last month found by DOJ to be engaging in a “pattern or practice of discrimination against Latinos and retaliation against critics.” The DOJ also determined that the culture of MCSO was one of “bias [that has] reached to the top levels of the agency.” Maricopa County residents were told that they would be able to discuss their concerns and ask questions at the hearing, but after two hours of discussion, it became clear that this wasn’t going to happen. Many in the audience stormed out of the auditorium outraged because they didn’t get any chance to confront Arpaio and his office’s decisions. the authority. They quickly sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice complaining about Joe Arpaio’s abuse of power, yet no response has been issued.
Check out a report on the hearing:
This meeting is yet another example of the failed leadership for which has Sheriff Arpaio has become infamous. Residents may have been snubbed, but one thing was made clear: under Arpaio’s leadership, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has no accountability to the public that it’s supposed to serve and protect.
At NCLR, we know that something must be done to hold Arpaio responsible for his actions against the Latino community. Tomorrow in Phoenix, we’ll be holding a press conference to highlight his lack of accountability and demand that action be taken. Click here for more information.