Published Friday, April 11, 2008 in the Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as “Sheriff’s popularity is created by an illusion.”
Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a popular man. A November KAET (Channel 8) poll found that nearly two-thirds of voters had a positive impression of him. People equate his numerous public appearances to real crime fighting. But photo-ops can be deceptive.
Our family commemorated the 40th anniversary of the murder of Martin Luther King by walking the streets of Guadalupe to monitor the Sheriff’s deputies. Guadalupe had been identified for a “crime suppression” operation, a.k.a. unauthorized immigrant sweep. By federal law, the sheriff’s patrols can’t stop people and ask about their legal status unless they spot a violation. At its peak, Sheriff cars and motorcycles were everywhere you looked in this small tucked away community. Read the rest of this entry »