Public To Weigh In On Sheriff's Office Reforms At Phoenix Forum

By Jude Joffe-Block
Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 6:05am

A forum Wednesday evening in downtown Phoenix invites members of the public to weigh in on reforming the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is expected to face fines and other remedial actions for violating U.S. District Court Judge Murray Snow’s orders in a racial profiling case. That included continuing to detain immigrants for being in the country illegally after a judge ordered that practice to stop.

In 2013, Snow ruled the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office systematically racially profiled Latino motorists. He ordered sweeping reforms at the sheriff’s office to prevent unconstitutional policing, including training, new policing protocols and body cameras. He appointed an independent monitor to oversee the sheriff’s compliance and created a community advisory board to serve as a liaison to the public.

“We want to hear from the community about what demands they want to see imposed on the Sheriff’s Office,” community advisory board member Angeles Maldonado said in a press release. “We know the public has thoughts about the remedies the MCSO should be forced to implement as a result of their failure to follow a federal judge’s orders and continued profiling of people of color.”

Arpaio and his chief deputy, Jerry Sheridan, have asked Snow to step down from the case. They argue that Snow created a conflict of interest when he questioned the sheriff about investigating him during an April contempt of court hearing.  

Final briefs were submitted on Monday. Snow has yet to rule on the motion.

The forum will be held at Grant Park at the intersection of S. 3rd Ave. and W. Grant Street in Phoenix at 6 p.m on June 24.