Date: April 3, 2012

DOJ TO SHERIFF ARPAIO: MONITOR ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY ARPAIO TO DOJ: I WILL NOT SURRENDER MY OFFICE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
(Phoenix, AZ) A series of meetings between representatives for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the U.S. Department of Justice were slated to begin tomorrow to discuss ways to resolve allegations of racial profiling by Sheriffs employees. But hours before the first meeting, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roy Austin of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division called Arpaios attorneys with an ultimatum. Austin stated that it was absolutely mandatory for the Sheriffs Office to agree to have an outside monitor otherwise there is no reason for further meetings. Appointment of an outside monitor essentially usurps the powers and duties of an elected Sheriff and transfers them to a person or group of persons selected by the federal government. Every policy decision, every operation, every new program in the jails and in enforcement, virtually everything would have to be approved by the monitor, nullifying the authority of the elected Sheriff and eviscerating the will of the citizens of Maricopa County. I am the constitutionally and legitimately elected Sheriff and I absolutely refuse to surrender my responsibility to the federal government. And so to the Obama administration, who is attempting to strong arm me into submission only for its political gain, I say, This will not happen, not on my watch!

100 West Washington, Suite 1900, Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Phone: (602) 876-1801 Fax: (602) 258-2081
Media Contact: MediaRequest@MCSO.Maricopa.Gov
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Sheriff's Deputy Director and Attorney Jack MacIntyre says a federal monitor is the most extreme proposal, particularly in light of the fact that the federal government has refused to provide any details or proof as to how they came to the conclusion that Maricopa County Sheriffs Office employees engage in patterns and practices of racial profiling as well as other unsupported claims that the DOJ has widely publicized. MacIntyre stated We have never agreed to a monitor replacing the duly elected Sheriff. We have always been open to negotiating these issues raised by the DOJ, but never the appointment of a monitor. END

100 West Washington, Suite 1900, Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Phone: (602) 876-1801 Fax: (602) 258-2081
Media Contact: MediaRequest@MCSO.Maricopa.Gov
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