Homère

Joe Arpaio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
| It has been suggested that Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office controversies be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |

Joe Arpaio |

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. standing in the blue suit behind Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce |
Born | Joseph M. Arpaio
June 14, 1932 (1932-06-14)(age 78)
Springfield, Massachusetts |
Occupation | Sheriff |
Spouse | Ava Arpaio |
Joseph M. « Joe » Arpaio (born June 14, 1932) is the elected Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Arpaio is responsible for law enforcement in Maricopa County, as well as running the county jail, courtroom security, prisoner transport, service of warrants, and service of process. Arpaio promotes himself as »America’s Toughest Sheriff. »[1][2] He has become controversial for aggressive publicity-seeking,[3] retaliation against political enemies,[4] abuse of power,[5] civil rights violations,[6] and financial mismanagement.[7] He is also noted for his outspoken stance against illegal immigration.[8][9] He has become a flashpoint for controversy surrounding Arizona’s SB1070 anti-illegal-immigrant act.[10] Heis currently the subject of FBI,[11] United States Department of Justice,[12] and Federal Grand Jury[13] investigations for civil rights violations and abuse of power, and is the defendant in a federal class-action suit for racial profiling.[14] Arpaio was once widely popular among voters in Arizona,[15] however his popularity has waned over the last three years.[16]
Contents[hide] * 1 Historyand law enforcement background * 2 Actions as Maricopa County Sheriff * 2.1 Television * 2.2 Jails * 2.3 Tent City * 2.4 Volunteer chain gangs * 2.5 Pink underwear * 2.6 Selective Service registration and organ donors * 2.7 Sheriff’s Posse * 2.8 Controversies * 2.8.1 Department of Justice Civil Rights Lawsuit * 2.8.2 Abuse of Power* 2.8.3 Feud with Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Maricopa Superior Court * 2.8.4 Election Law Violation * 2.8.5 Misuse of funds * 3 Election results * 3.1 2008 election results * 3.2 2004 election results * 3.3 2000 election results * 3.4 2007 Failed Recall petition * 4 Books * 5 References * 6 External links |
[edit] History and lawenforcement background
Arpaio was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to Italian-American[17] parents. Arpaio’s mother died while giving birth to him, and Arpaio was raised by his father, a grocery store owner. Arpaio completed high school and worked in his father’s business until age 18 when he enlisted in the United States Army.[18] Arpaio served in the Army from 1950 to 1954 in the MedicalDetachment Division and was stationed in France for part of the time as a military policeman.[19]
Following his discharge in 1954, Arpaio moved to Washington, D.C. and became a police officer, moving in 1957 to Las Vegas, Nevada. He served as a police officer in Las Vegas for six months before being appointed as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, which later became part of the DrugEnforcement Administration (DEA).[20] During his 25-year tenure with the DEA, he was stationed in Argentina, Turkey and Mexico, and advanced through the ranks to the position of head of the DEA’s Arizona branch.[21]
In 1992, Arpaio successfully campaigned for the office of Maricopa County Sheriff. The voters of Maricopa County re-elected him in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008.[22]
Arpaio married hisbride Ava in 1958. Arpaio and his wife have two children and four grandchildren.[23] They currently reside in Fountain Hills, Arizona [24]
[edit] Actions as Maricopa County Sheriff
[edit] Television
In late 2008 and early 2009 Arpaio appeared in Smile…You’re Under Arrest!, a three-episode Fox Reality Channel series in which persons with outstanding warrants were tricked into presenting…