Sheriff Joe Arpaio Scandal: Petition Calls For Ouster Of 'America's Toughest Sheriff'

Has Arizona grown tired of the man who describes himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff"?

An online campaign is gaining steam to demand the ouster of the TV-friendly Joe Arpaio in wake of allegations that his department has botched the investigation into more than 400 alleged sex crimes, many of which possibly involve children.

The petition, which currently boasts approximately 2,500 signatures, claims that the Maricopa County sheriff has "failed to protect the public and carry out his duties as an elected official in a Constitutional manner," according to Change.org.

Last week, the Associated Press published an article documenting some of the cases which Arpaio's critics claim he overlooked during the three year period leading up to 2007.

John Doughtery, a Phoenix New Times investigative journalist, who launched the campaign against Arpaio, explained his reasoning in a press release.

“Joe Arpaio has already cost Maricopa County more than $100 million in misspent funds and $43 million in settlements for claims arising from abuse in the county jails,” said Dougherty. “Since 2006 Joe Arpaio has allowed child molestation cases to take a backseat to his publicity stunts, racial profiling based roundups, campaigning, and a reality TV show. This is a clear example of government waste and abuse of power that must not be tolerated.”

Arpaio's critics have called him a "flagrant human rights violator" thanks to publicity stunts such as forcing prisoners to wear pink underwear and housing inmates in tents when his prisons reached capacity. During his tenure, Arpaio has significantly expanded the Sheriff's Posse program, a unit comprised of volunteers who assist with tasks ranging from emergency communications, traffic control, and assisting in controversial immigration sweeps.

The statement also listed several politicians who previously called for Arpaio to resign, including Rep. Raul Grijalva, as well as Arizona State Reps. Ruben Gallego and Katie Hobb. Republican senators Jon Kyl and John McCain.

Related on HuffPost:

Comments

[atexasdem]

10:05 AM on 12/18/2011

The people of Arizona have chosen to make make Joe Arpaio and Governor Jan Brewer their public representatives and public face. To say "This is who we are and this is what we represent". As I read the posts here it seems the majority of Arizonans support and defend these two. If Sheriff Joe and Governor Brewer are chosen and want to be the national "face" of Arizona, so be it. Remember though Arizonans. The people of Alabama supported Governor George Wallace and Bull Conner of Birmingham fame. Fifty years later they are still fighting to overcome that stain and period of history. How many years will it take for your descendants to overcome the stain that you have so eagerly put on the name " Arizona"? Just as certain towns in Alabama's history like Selma, Birmingham, Montgomery go down in history Arizona chooses to add Phoenix and Tuscon to theirs.

[gumbo1049]

09:27 AM on 12/18/2011

Arizona "The land of guns and hate"

[CrackerJackDaniel]

10:09 PM on 12/18/2011

No, the land of guns and guts.

[Fattonecat]

11:52 AM on 12/19/2011

...nah.... it's hate

[carnivaluv]

12:02 PM on 12/19/2011

Guts, everybody has guts at some point in their lives.

[kjrd7]

09:17 PM on 12/16/2011

Keep up the good work, Joe. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. Keep plenty of pink underwear available, please. I'm behind you 100 0/0, You are my hero.

[ZOO1]

11:44 AM on 12/16/2011

This is the filth in the Obama adminstration's reaction to SCOTUS undertaking judgement on Arizona SB1070. They know they are going to lose, possibly as early as June, and are making a pure desperation move to demonstrate to the Supreme court that immigration enforcement is racist, cruel, and unconstitutional. We will have to wait another entire year to flush this pile of waste down the toilet and out of office.

[archarabia]

09:45 AM on 12/15/2011

I can understand the appeal of a tough-guy sheriff, especially in the SW, cracking down on crime. I'd have more respect for someone who also took prophylactic steps to help prevent crime, outreach, rehab programs, etc.

The White folks in Arizona don't need to worry about this. Most of the botched sex-assault cases involved immigrants, who don't deserve protection apparently.

They may be immigrants, but you are still an American officer sworn to uphold the law, not uphold the law only if White people's rights are violated. Join the rest of us in the 21st century.

[atexasdem]

10:16 AM on 12/18/2011

Understand that the people of Arizona are working hard to revert to an idealistic pre 1960's Mississippi and Alabama. This is the basis of so called "conservatism". They have voted the key people into office. Jan Brewer is the modern George Wallace. Joe Arpaio is the modern Bull Conner. Their supporters are loud and vocal. The flag of Arizona has become the new Stars and Bars. Before the people of Arizona continue down this path they need to take a look at the price that Alabama and Mississippi paid for their hate. Fifty years later both states have worked hard to overcome their history but still carry that stain. Is this the legacy you choose to leave? The decision is yours.

[Bigjimi]

08:07 AM on 12/15/2011

This guy is a bigot.I'll bet he beats his wife and kicks his dog !!

[bdot157]

07:54 PM on 12/14/2011

I heard Michelle Bachman is thinking of tapping him as her running mate or was it she was just thinking of tapping him.

[GrumpyinAZ]

06:06 PM on 12/15/2011

He endorsed Cain but there's an openining

[billygore2000]

02:14 PM on 12/14/2011

Arizona should not be confounded with Maricopa County; nor its citizenry, with the nutty electorate of said county, which alone is responsible for Sheriff Joe.

[GrumpyinAZ]

06:07 PM on 12/15/2011

But Maricopa County is the majority of the population

[grant06]

04:38 PM on 12/17/2011

Until you guys get your act together and get these maniacs out of office the whole state gets to take credit. Of course this will include the continued loss of jobs and tourists that goes along with Arizona's reputation for idiocy.

[Aquiver]

12:22 PM on 12/14/2011

I seriously doubt that John Kyl and John McCain ever called for him to resign. That is beyond plausible. They would never do anything reasonable like that.

[jammasterjim]

12:16 PM on 12/14/2011

"Arpaio's critics have called him a "flagrant human rights violator" thanks to publicity stunts such as forcing prisoners to wear pink underwear" - NOT TRUE - The pink underwear is not a human rights violation nor is it seen that way by Joe's critics; it's just one of his dumb publicity stunts. Don't trivialize legitimate critiques (immigration sweeps, detention deaths, etc) by including the pink underwear. Makes it sound like we are just whining about a silly thing. Pink underwear is meant, like all his stunts, to distract from his abuses and wastefulness

[Arcelio Martinez]

12:10 PM on 12/14/2011

What a disgrace to law ENFORCEMENT .. the fact that he ignored over 400 sex crimes should be enough I wonder where the minds of his supporters reside

[Enrique Iglesias]

06:18 PM on 12/14/2011

Gee, Arcey, 400 + Sex Crimes and of course the Sherrifs Office is the "ONLY" law enforcement body in Maricopa County??? Give me a break; this is something that might appear in the New York Times in their Cheap Rag, you really ought to get the facts; you are aware that the Prisoners are taking care of all the animals that have been abandonded in Maricopa County with all the people whose homes were reposed at no charge to the county... But, I'm sure that you as a Law Enforcement Official are doing a good job where you are... Nothing in that closet is there, Arcey???

[bdot157]

07:51 PM on 12/14/2011

You have probably never read the New York Times...........too many big words ya jus can't dang unnerstann.

[Fattonecat]

11:56 AM on 12/19/2011

...go be a righty and clean your gun or something .....

[Drect]

11:18 AM on 12/14/2011

This man is the walking, talking, definition of 'doing more harm than good'. Get rid of him! But this is Arizona though...he might end up with a promotion and a raise.

[Enrique Iglesias]

06:19 PM on 12/14/2011

Since you don't live here, ask yourself how your Police Force is doing...

[Drect]

12:02 PM on 12/15/2011

In Canada we don't racially profile and make inmates run around in pink underwear as if being locked up wasn't bad enough. So on those two points alone I think we have law enrforcement figured out for the most part.

[GrumpyinAZ]

06:12 PM on 12/15/2011

I live "Here" and Sheriff Joe is a disgrace, as is the Arizona GOP and its Fuhrer JT Ready

[bourhenne]

03:42 PM on 12/15/2011

What the heck would you know about the U.S. and it's problems... best you stay in Canada

[Drect]

04:03 PM on 12/15/2011

Quiet fool, you obvisouly have no idea. I lived in the states for 12 years. I have an idea of how it works champ.

Want to assume anything else or are you done making a fool of yourself?

[Cakey4814]

10:47 AM on 12/14/2011

It's about time. This man is nothing but a criminal with a badge.

[ProgressivesLoveAmerica]

10:42 AM on 12/14/2011

I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

This is Arizona we're talking about.

I wouldn't put it past Joe Arpaio's constituency to simply replce him with another prominent Arizona conservative like J.T. Ready or somebody that would sympathize with Shawna Forde.

[Enrique Iglesias]

06:20 PM on 12/14/2011

How about Jude Roy Bean??? Do us all a favor and just come once in your life to see the Grand Caynon and keep moving... Back to California...

[ProgressivesLoveAmerica]

02:46 PM on 12/16/2011

It's called tongue-in-cheek humor.

Any time Arizona is in the news because immigration issues or Joe Arpaio, I always make casual joking references to JT Ready and Shawna Forde. I have yet to see an Arizona conservative condemn either. Ready should be an embarassment to your cause, not an embodiment of your ideology.

I have roots in Arizona. I understand what I'm talking about. You may not see it this way, but a lot of the main thrust behind Arizona's attack on illegal immigrants seems to be strongly motivated by bigotry.

[Fattonecat]

12:00 PM on 12/19/2011

The G canyon WAS on my bucket list...... no more. I'll spend my money in New Mexico.

[GrumpyinAZ]

06:15 PM on 12/15/2011

JT Ready is a former GOP Committeeman and the Fuhrer of the National Socialist Movement

[A Dub]

10:42 AM on 12/14/2011

This guy is a bigot, a fear monger and a menace to society.