by KYMA-TV News 11 - December 2012
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he plans to deploy his armed volunteer posse to protect Phoenix-area schools from the kind of attacks that left 20 students and six educators dead in Connecticut on Dec. 14.
Arpaio tells KTVK-TV he has the authority to mobilize private citizens to fight crime in Maricopa County but hasn't talked to specific districts. He says he doesn't plan to put posse volunteers inside schools but will have them posted on school perimeters.
The plan the sheriff announced Thursday comes a day after two other politicians announced their ideas for beefing up Arizona school security. Attorney General Tom Horne proposed firearms training for one person in each school. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu proposed training multiple educators per school to carry guns.
Showing posts with label Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Show all posts
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Former County Attorney Andrew Thomas Disbarred
Written by John Rudolf, Huffington Post, April 11, 2012
A former top Arizona prosecutor and anti-illegal immigration crusader used his office to destroy political enemies, filed malicious and unfounded criminal charges and committed perjury and other crimes, a state legal ethics panel ruled on Tuesday in Phoenix.
The three-member panel voted unanimously to disbar Andrew Thomas, the former Maricopa County attorney, and his former top deputy, Lisa Aubuchon. Thomas was elected in 2004 and resigned in 2010 during his second term to pursue an unsuccessful run for Arizona attorney general.
"This is the story of the public trust dishonored, desecrated and defiled," the ethics panel said.
As chief prosecutor for Arizona's most populous county, which covers much of the Phoenix area, Thomas, a Republican, gained national prominence after joining forces with Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County's controversial sheriff, in aggressively pursuing, detaining and prosecuting undocumented immigrants.
A series of failed public corruption prosecutions, also closely plotted with Arpaio, proved Thomas's downfall. After the cases collapsed, a far-reaching independent investigation authorized by the Arizona Supreme Court revealed stunning ethical lapses, according to the scathing 247-page report by the review panel.
Thomas suffered from "profound arrogance" that led him into "ethical ruin," said the panel, headed by William O'Neill, the state's presiding disciplinary judge.
Thomas, aided by Aubuchon, "outrageously exploited power, flagrantly fostered fear, and disgracefully misused the law," the panel said.
In a decision read from the bench, O'Neill said the panel found "clear and convincing evidence" that Thomas and his deputy brought unfounded and malicious criminal and civil charges against political opponents, including four state judges and the state attorney general.
The charges were ultimately rejected by state grand juries or thrown out of court as meritless, but not before wrecking havoc on the lives of those targeted.
Thomas used his office to settle political scores and worked closely with Arpaio's office in the discredited prosecutions, said Bennett Gershman, a national expert on prosecutor misconduct who acted as a consultant for the ethics investigation.
"Anybody who disagreed with them, they indicted," Gershman said.
In one instance, Thomas brought criminal charges against a state judge with no evidence and no investigation, in order to stop the judge from filing an adverse ruling the following day in a corruption case. In another case, Thomas indicted a county official on more than 120 misdemeanor and felony counts, despite having clear knowledge that the statute of limitations for almost all of the alleged crimes had passed more than a year earlier.
Thomas and Arpaio are under investigation by a federal grand jury for possible civil rights and other charges, according to court documents obtained by the Arizona Republic in 2010. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Phoenix declined to comment on the grand jury proceedings.
Despite the harsh sanctions, Thomas remained defiant on Tuesday, declaring in a statement that his disbarment was the result of a "political witch hunt."
"Today, corruption has won and justice has lost," Thomas said. "I brought corruption cases in good faith involving powerful people, and the political and legal establishment blatantly covered up and retaliated by targeting my law license."
Thomas' claims of persecution rang false to Rick Romley, a fellow Republican who served as Maricopa County attorney for 16 years prior to Thomas's election to the office in 2004.
"There is no credibility in that statement," Romley said in an interview with The Huffington Post. "It really begs the question of whether or not he is delusional."
Romley, who led several major corruption probes during his tenure, applauded the ethics panel's ruling.
"It's absolutely clear that this wasn't a search for justice," he said of Thomas's contested prosecutions. "This is an issue of vindictiveness and a clear abuse of power."
Arpaio issued a statement on the disciplinary panel's decision, but did not leap to his former ally's defense.
"Today's decision no doubt is a disappointment to Andrew Thomas, his family and his colleagues," said Arpaio, dubbed "America's Toughest Sheriff" by conservatives. "He was a hard-working professional who served the people of this county for many years."
"As there are several lawsuits involving some of the same parties and issues involved in today's decision, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further," Arpaio said.
A former top Arizona prosecutor and anti-illegal immigration crusader used his office to destroy political enemies, filed malicious and unfounded criminal charges and committed perjury and other crimes, a state legal ethics panel ruled on Tuesday in Phoenix.
The three-member panel voted unanimously to disbar Andrew Thomas, the former Maricopa County attorney, and his former top deputy, Lisa Aubuchon. Thomas was elected in 2004 and resigned in 2010 during his second term to pursue an unsuccessful run for Arizona attorney general.
"This is the story of the public trust dishonored, desecrated and defiled," the ethics panel said.
As chief prosecutor for Arizona's most populous county, which covers much of the Phoenix area, Thomas, a Republican, gained national prominence after joining forces with Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County's controversial sheriff, in aggressively pursuing, detaining and prosecuting undocumented immigrants.
A series of failed public corruption prosecutions, also closely plotted with Arpaio, proved Thomas's downfall. After the cases collapsed, a far-reaching independent investigation authorized by the Arizona Supreme Court revealed stunning ethical lapses, according to the scathing 247-page report by the review panel.
Thomas suffered from "profound arrogance" that led him into "ethical ruin," said the panel, headed by William O'Neill, the state's presiding disciplinary judge.
Thomas, aided by Aubuchon, "outrageously exploited power, flagrantly fostered fear, and disgracefully misused the law," the panel said.
In a decision read from the bench, O'Neill said the panel found "clear and convincing evidence" that Thomas and his deputy brought unfounded and malicious criminal and civil charges against political opponents, including four state judges and the state attorney general.
The charges were ultimately rejected by state grand juries or thrown out of court as meritless, but not before wrecking havoc on the lives of those targeted.
Thomas used his office to settle political scores and worked closely with Arpaio's office in the discredited prosecutions, said Bennett Gershman, a national expert on prosecutor misconduct who acted as a consultant for the ethics investigation.
"Anybody who disagreed with them, they indicted," Gershman said.
In one instance, Thomas brought criminal charges against a state judge with no evidence and no investigation, in order to stop the judge from filing an adverse ruling the following day in a corruption case. In another case, Thomas indicted a county official on more than 120 misdemeanor and felony counts, despite having clear knowledge that the statute of limitations for almost all of the alleged crimes had passed more than a year earlier.
Thomas and Arpaio are under investigation by a federal grand jury for possible civil rights and other charges, according to court documents obtained by the Arizona Republic in 2010. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Phoenix declined to comment on the grand jury proceedings.
Despite the harsh sanctions, Thomas remained defiant on Tuesday, declaring in a statement that his disbarment was the result of a "political witch hunt."
"Today, corruption has won and justice has lost," Thomas said. "I brought corruption cases in good faith involving powerful people, and the political and legal establishment blatantly covered up and retaliated by targeting my law license."
Thomas' claims of persecution rang false to Rick Romley, a fellow Republican who served as Maricopa County attorney for 16 years prior to Thomas's election to the office in 2004.
"There is no credibility in that statement," Romley said in an interview with The Huffington Post. "It really begs the question of whether or not he is delusional."
Romley, who led several major corruption probes during his tenure, applauded the ethics panel's ruling.
"It's absolutely clear that this wasn't a search for justice," he said of Thomas's contested prosecutions. "This is an issue of vindictiveness and a clear abuse of power."
Arpaio issued a statement on the disciplinary panel's decision, but did not leap to his former ally's defense.
"Today's decision no doubt is a disappointment to Andrew Thomas, his family and his colleagues," said Arpaio, dubbed "America's Toughest Sheriff" by conservatives. "He was a hard-working professional who served the people of this county for many years."
"As there are several lawsuits involving some of the same parties and issues involved in today's decision, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further," Arpaio said.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Justice Department
By Jacques Billeaud, Associated Press, August 5, 2011
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Thursday (August 4, 2011) that federal officials who have been investigating racial profiling allegations against his office for more than two years have not informed him of any constitutional violations by his deputies.
The sheriff of Maricopa County, known for his immigration patrols and tough jail policies, said the Justice Department would have to take action to stop racial profiling if investigators had found violations.
"I am tired of this situation in the media, around the country and the world, talking about I'm under investigation for alleged racial profiling," the frustrated Arpaio said about the length of the investigation and the bad publicity.
"Let's get it over with and be fair and go public and say the sheriff is doing a good job on this matter," he said.
The Justice Department probe began in March 2009 amid allegations of discrimination, unconstitutional searches and seizures, and for having an English-only policy in his jails that discriminates against people with limited English skills.
Federal lawyers have provided few details of the probe, but Arpaio has said it is focused on his immigration sweeps.
During the patrols, deputies flood an area of a city-in some cases, heavily Latino areas-over several days to seek traffic violators and arrest others.
Critics say Arpaio's deputies target people for minor infractions based on their skin color so they can ask for proof of citizenship. Arpaio has repeatedly denied racial profiling allegations and said his officers handled the traffic stops properly.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Arpaio last year in a bid to get records and access to sheriff's employees and jail inmates as part of the civil rights investigation.
The lawsuit was dismissed Monday after Arpaio's office and the Justice Department reached an earlier settlement. The Department of Justice said the sheriff's office had cooperated since the lawsuit was filed by handing over records and giving access to employees and jails.
The federal agency released a written statement Thursday saying its investigation is continuing and Arpaio's office is cooperating.
Lydia Guzman, a board member of the Phoenix-based Hispanic civil rights group Somos America, said Arpaio is to blame for the length of the investigation because his earlier refusal to cooperate with investigators slowed the examination.
"If it was true that there was nothing on him, then why would he be afraid to turn over information?" Guzman said.
Arpaio doesn't expect the civil rights investigation to be resolved until after his 2012 re-election campaign.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Thursday (August 4, 2011) that federal officials who have been investigating racial profiling allegations against his office for more than two years have not informed him of any constitutional violations by his deputies.
The sheriff of Maricopa County, known for his immigration patrols and tough jail policies, said the Justice Department would have to take action to stop racial profiling if investigators had found violations.
"I am tired of this situation in the media, around the country and the world, talking about I'm under investigation for alleged racial profiling," the frustrated Arpaio said about the length of the investigation and the bad publicity.
"Let's get it over with and be fair and go public and say the sheriff is doing a good job on this matter," he said.
The Justice Department probe began in March 2009 amid allegations of discrimination, unconstitutional searches and seizures, and for having an English-only policy in his jails that discriminates against people with limited English skills.
Federal lawyers have provided few details of the probe, but Arpaio has said it is focused on his immigration sweeps.
During the patrols, deputies flood an area of a city-in some cases, heavily Latino areas-over several days to seek traffic violators and arrest others.
Critics say Arpaio's deputies target people for minor infractions based on their skin color so they can ask for proof of citizenship. Arpaio has repeatedly denied racial profiling allegations and said his officers handled the traffic stops properly.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Arpaio last year in a bid to get records and access to sheriff's employees and jail inmates as part of the civil rights investigation.
The lawsuit was dismissed Monday after Arpaio's office and the Justice Department reached an earlier settlement. The Department of Justice said the sheriff's office had cooperated since the lawsuit was filed by handing over records and giving access to employees and jails.
The federal agency released a written statement Thursday saying its investigation is continuing and Arpaio's office is cooperating.
Lydia Guzman, a board member of the Phoenix-based Hispanic civil rights group Somos America, said Arpaio is to blame for the length of the investigation because his earlier refusal to cooperate with investigators slowed the examination.
"If it was true that there was nothing on him, then why would he be afraid to turn over information?" Guzman said.
Arpaio doesn't expect the civil rights investigation to be resolved until after his 2012 re-election campaign.
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