Arpaio mocked the federal racial stereotype investigation and refused to cooperate

Arpaio mocked the federal racial stereotype investigation and refused to cooperate (Alberta Times) Sheriff Apao is in trouble again. An audio recording shows that Sheriff Apao once...

Arpaio mocks federal racial stereotype investigation, refuses to cooperate (Alberta Times) Sheriff Arpaio is in trouble again. An audio recording shows Arpaio telling a rally by an anti-illegal immigration group in Texas that he would refuse to cooperate in a racial stereotype investigation, mocking officials who tried to open the investigation and expressing disdain for federal investigators. When Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio made this disparaging statement in 2009, the federal Justice Department had begun a civil rights investigation into his signature immigration patrols, and the FBI had begun a review of abuses of power in its investigation of political opponents. In a 2009 taped speech in Houston, Arpaio claimed that he arrested hundreds of illegal immigrants after officials and federal investigators began to find fault with his patrols. He said he would not cooperate with the investigation but said he would reduce patrols if he was proven wrong. "But I won't 'cooperate,' and after they investigated me, we arrested 500 more people just to vent their anger," said Arpaio, who calls himself "the toughest police chief in the United States." The audio is followed by laughter and applause. In an interview last Thursday, Arpaio defended his remarks in front of Texans For Immigration Reform, saying they were some humorous impromptu remarks just to show that he would not give in to criticism. "These are not formal, sworn speeches," Arpaio said. At present, the Department of Justice has stated that it will prosecute Arpaio for violating civil rights laws. Arpaio's office has been accused of discriminating against Hispanics and retaliating against critics of his immigration patrol policies.