Depart of Justice accuses Arpaio of racial profiling and unconstitutional policing

The U.S. Department of Justice todayreleased a reportaccusing the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office led by Joe Arpaio with racialprofiling of Latinos and a host of other unconstitutional practices.
"Based upon our extensiveinvestigation, we find reasonable cause to believe that MCSO engages in apattern or practice of unconstitutional policing," the report cites. In addition,the DOJ document states that Arpaio's department engages in "racialprofiling of Latinos; unlawfully stops, detains and arrests Latinos; andunlawfully retaliates against individuals who complain about or criticize MCSO'policies or practices."
The charges against theself-proclaimed "America's toughest sheriff" come on the heels of charges thathis department "scarcely lifted afinger to investigate hundreds of sex-crime cases Valley-wide -- many of themperpetrated against children; many with easily identifiable suspects" according to the ArizonaRepublic.

The Depart of Justice report corroboratesyears of complaints filed by civil rights groups who have accused Arapio of media-circusbusts of low-wage laborers while neglecting the enforcement of serious crimes.
Personally speaking, the timing of thisreport during the holiday season is a blemish on what should be a celebrationof the spirit of compassion. All the same, this important news cannot beignored.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez


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