sheriff JOE ARPAIO chronicles Blog News Archive Interactive

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Sheriff Reacts To New Immigration Law
Civil rights activists are calling on President Barack Obama to fight a tough new Arizona law targeting illegal immigrants that Gov. Jan Brewer signed on Friday. Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, "What's going to happen now is you'll see the president and Congress finally take some action. If it took this for them to be alert and take some action, then it's worthwhile, isn't it?"

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Arpaio Announces Yet Another Crime Sweep
Sheriff Joe Arpaio will be sending his deputies and posse members out for their 15th crime sweep at some point next week. Though Arpaio has not said exactly where the crime sweep will take place, he said it will take place in a high-crime area.

On Tuesday, a blog for the Phoenix New Times pointed readers toward a video of an appearance by Arpaio, Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and Ariz. Sen. Russell Pearce on Geraldo Rivera's show in late March:

Labels: , , , , ,

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Arpaio Thwarted In Jail Health Care Suit
A Maricopa County judge recently dismissed a lawsuit Sheriff Joe Arpaio filed against the Board of Supervisors related to the jails' health care system:
Arpaio sued the county Board of Supervisors and county administrators last year, saying they mismanaged the agency. County Superior Court Judge Robert Oberbillig granted the county's motion to dismiss Monday. Arpaio said he plans to appeal the decision and take the fight to federal court.

According to the Phoenix New Times, the judge's move may have saved the county more than $100,000:
Oberbillig's ruling, which he announced to the parties involved after oral arguments this afternoon, was a "judgment on the pleadings" -- meaning the judge was able to toss out the suit without any information other than the sheriff's complaint and the county's response.

Which, of course, means less cost to us taxpayers. Yay!

That doesn't mean it wasn't a huge waste of money. The judge's quick decision, says Wade Swanson, the county's general counsel, means that legal fees will run to "tens of thousands of dollars instead of hundreds of thousands of dollars." But hey... considering what this stuff usually costs, we'll take it.

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, April 2, 2010

"Pedal Vision" Gives Inmates TV Privileges; Thomas Resigns To Run For AG
In his latest Tent City program, called "Pedal Vision," Sheriff Joe Arpaio is giving inmates the opportunity to pedal a stationary bike that generates electricity to power a TV.


Also announced yesterday was Arpaio cohort Andrew Thomas' decision to run for attorney general. Under the state "resign to run" law, elected officials who are not up for reelection or facing term limits must resign their current position to run for another office.

Thomas' last day on the job will be April 6.

Labels: , ,