Arizona Sheriff’s Office Unfairly Targeted Latinos, Justice Department Says

[Purveyor]

PHOENIX — In a harshly worded critique of the country’s best-known sheriff, the Justice Department accused Joe Arpaio of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office of engaging in “unconstitutional policing” by unfairly targeting Latinos for detentions and arrests and retaliating against those who complain.

After an investigation that lasted more than two years, the civil rights division of the Justice Department said the sheriff’s office has “a pervasive culture of discriminatory bias against Latinos” that “reaches the highest levels of the agency.” The department interfered with the inquiry, the government said, prompting a lawsuit that eventually led Mr. Arpaio and his deputies to cooperate.

“We have peeled the onion to its core,” said Thomas E. Perez, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, noting during a conference call with reporters on Thursday morning that more than 400 people were interviewed as part of the review. Mr. Perez said the inquiry raised the question of whether Latinos were receiving “second-class policing services” in Maricopa County.

The report stems from a civil inquiry and Mr. Perez said he hoped that Mr. Arpaio would cooperate with the federal government in turning the department around. Should he refuse, a lawsuit will be filed, Mr. Perez said, adding that the Justice Department is conducting a separate criminal inquiry of the department.

MORE...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/us/arizona-sheriffs-office-unfairly-targeted-latinos-justice-department-says.html?_r=1

[comipinko]

1. Alright!! More than I could have hoped for: "Stern Words "!!!

That will teach 'em!!!

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Don't forget about the separate criminal investigation.

That investigation will no doubt turn up sufficient evidence to warrant a full-blown tongue-lashing.

[comipinko]

4. But Eric is too busy prosecuting the bankers that stole the

middle class's wealth to spend any time on this.

[midnight]

10. Actually he is busy going after those frauding the insurance co...

New government statistics show federal health care fraud prosecutions in the first eight months of 2011 are on pace to rise 85% over last year due in large part to ramped-up enforcement efforts under the Obama administration.http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-08-29/Health-care-fraud-prosecutions-on-pace-to-rise-85/50180282/1

[comipinko]

12. Oh!! Well THAT is waaaaayyyy more important than

bringing to justice those responsible for the utter collapse of the middle class!! Heck yea!

[msanthrope]

17. Um, the 'insurance company' is US. Citizens of the US. Medicare fraud screws us all.

As for prosecutions of private insurer fraud, take a look at the Puerto Rico case---


"In January, the FBI went after 533 people in Puerto Rico who worked with doctors to send bogus accidental injury claims to American Family Life Insurance Company — ultimately bilking the company of $7 million. Some individuals submitted hundreds of accident claims, while paying a doctor $10 to $20 per claim to fraudulently approve them."

What should we have done? Allowed one of the few insurers on the island to go under, and told the PR DOJ to go figure it out themselves?

[midnight]

45. You are right msanthrope, but 7 million is peanuts compared 7.77 trillion.

Federal Reserve Gave Big Banks Secret Loans of $7.77 Trillion http://www.mygovcost.org/2011/11/28/federal-reserve-gave-big-banks-secret-loans-of-13-billion/

[msanthrope]

13. You do realize that the criminal probe is going on, and the takeover of the department is now in the

works????

[comipinko]

15. Like I said, get back to me when that happens. (it won't).

Empty words.

[msanthrope]

19. What won't happen? The criminal probe? Already happening.

Department takeover? Timeline is there.

Tell us how you know Thomas Perez won't do his job.

[comipinko]

20. The "probe" will fade away like the light at dusk.

This is the acme of action.Sorry.

[msanthrope]

23. A federal Grand Jury is seated and taking testimony.

I think we will hear from them when their term expires.

[comipinko]

24. Yup, we will hear:

NO BILL

[msanthrope]

28. You really think the citizens sitting on that Grand Jury will return no true bill?

Even after Paul Babeu's report?

[comipinko]

29. Ill bet you $10,000 !

[midnight]

46. Good. My friend's niece was driving around while looking brown, and was pulled over and

accused of being a Mexican illegal.... She was outraged and said she was Arab... My sense was this didn't help much.

[msanthrope]

7. Takeover of the department is more than stern words.

Having just watched the presser, and read the 22-page report, the AAG has given Arpaio a choice:

Reform in collaboration with the Latino community, or face legal action for takeover. He has 60 days to prove he will act in 'good faith.'

The DOJ is remaining on site to implement reforms.

[comipinko]

9. Get back to me WHEN that happens.

I will NOT be holding my breath.

I stand by my snark 600%.

[msanthrope]

14. I will. Have you any doubt that Thomas Perez was not serious?

Tell us all how you know that.

[comipinko]

16. The structure of your question is....well questionable.

But here goes: I have no doubt that Mr. Perez is not serious. This administration will play politics and this is as far as this will go. Done . I "know" this because I put a lot of stock in past performance.

[msanthrope]

21. So, the DOJ takeover of NOLA's PD would indicate that there's a willingness to act, non? nt

[comipinko]

22. you are trying to equate apples with giraffes.

[msanthrope]

25. No, you just don't like being given an example that proves you wrong.

You know, Joe Arpaio thinks the Obama's investigation of him is just political, too.

He thinks it's because he has been investigating the 'birther' issue.

[comipinko]

27. Ha ha ha , you have "proved" nothing.

Time will tell. Book mark it! no indictments, no "take over" , only lip service.

[msanthrope]

30. Welcome to DU!!! nt

[comipinko]

31. right back at ya

[sharp_stick]

3. And yet another for the files of the

No Shit Department. Now if they would actually do something about it that might be news.

[msanthrope]

8. Department takeover. The process started. nt

[unionworks]

5. the wheels of justice

Turn oh so slowly for the 99%

[jaxx]

6. Good job DOJ.

Arpaio discrimination can't be denied.

[MarkCharles]

11. This just in "water is wet and fire is hot"..details to follow.

[sakabatou]

38. +1

[cosmicone]

18. Why is Arpaio still wearing a uniform after all these years? n/t

[pampango]

26. DoJ issued an ultimatum:come to a voluntary court-enforceable agreement to stop the unconstitutional

practices or face a lawsuit under provisions of federal Civil Rights Act.

"The Sheriff's Office has until Jan. 4 to decide whether to voluntarily cooperate with federal officials. If so, the Justice Department will work with Sheriff Joe Arpaio to correct violations in the next 60 days. If the sheriff declines to cooperate or fails to reach agreement, the Justice Department said it would file a civil action to force compliance with federal law."

Justice has been investigating Arpaio's office for more than three years. According to the Republic, "Arpaio and his administrators have consistently denied that the office's ongoing immigration-enforcement measures target Latino residents. Throughout the investigation, Arpaio continued his immigration enforcement tactics."

Justice Dept. on Sheriff Arpaio (for the whole 22-page letter)



http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/12/15/143776718/sheriff-arpaio-violates-latinos-rights-justice-department-says

[MBS]

32. Excellent : ) n/t

[Stuart G]

33. Oh MY....This will ...not help Republicans with the Latino vote..will it???nt

[Ecumenist]

34. I cannot stand Phoenix for fiercely personal reasons, (no insult intended), but may I ask a question

Doesn't the name ARPAIO find it's origin in nations south of our borders? I've always seen him as the latino version of Quisling.

[Vogon_Glory]

35. The Prevailing Evidence Is That The Arpaio Surname Is Italian n/t

[MADem]

37. He's Italian--bringing discredit upon that culture with his racism!

Both parents were Italian.

To make matters even worse, he was born in Massachusetts...

Oh, the shame...

[MADem]

36. Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit!~ I am SHOCKED, I tell you...SHOCKED!

No, not really.

I kinda figured that guy was a bit of a racist....

[ellisonz]

39. Have you tried: I Can't Belive It's Not Butter

[MADem]

40. The one time I tried margerine, I ended up with a crown on my head! nt

[ellisonz]

41. Was it a crown of butter? n/t

Inquiring people want to know.

[MADem]

42. No, but it was said to have flavor "fit for a King."

There's video proof of it:

[AnOhioan]

43. Ya don't say.! In other news, water is wet

[Dawson Leery]

44. Arizona's own Bull Connor is going down.

[L. Coyote]

47. The criminal inquiry should be the most interesting part of this.