MENU
SEARCHMaricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio defended his suppression sweeps and immigration enforcement practices in court today, testifying that he doesn't arrest people "because of the color of their skin."
Image courtesy of ACLU.
Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio defended his suppression sweeps and immigration enforcement practices in court today, testifying that he doesn't arrest people "because of the color of their skin."
Sheriff Arpaio was called to testify in a Phoenix courtroom in a civil trial alleging he has engaged in racially motivated policing.
On Tuesday, he was asked about a statement in which he called undocumented immigrants "dirty," reports the Associated Press .
Arpaio said the proper context was needed to understand that statement, adding that if a person were to cross the border on foot over four days in the desert that person "could be dirty. That's the context on how I used that word."
The trial stems from a class-action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which claims Sheriff Arpaio "acted on racially charged citizen complaints and requests for operations that he forwarded to his senior staff." The complaints criticized people based on "little more than the color of their skin or the fact that they were speaking Spanish," according to an ACLU statement .
Related:
Sheriff Joe May Testify In Racial Profiling Trial
Feds Sue Sheriff Arpaio, Claiming Discrimination Against Hispanics
Judge Warns Both Sides to Stay Current in Sheriff Joe Profiling Case
Join POLICE as we visit with Steve Atkinson of Traka and learn about the company’s asset management cabinets and key lockers.
Read More →
Team Wendy shared data about DREW, a biofidelic helmet-test rig built to simulate real head-to-ground falls and capture both linear and rotational head motion, during the recent Personal Armour Systems Symposium in Belgium.
Read More →
The 2026 US Police and Fire Championships, featuring more than 35 Olympic-style events and new competitions, will return to San Diego, California.
Read More →
In honor of National First Responders Day, FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends will host a live audience made up of first responders and their families. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other emergency personnel have been invited to attend the live program.
Read More →
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
Last week, during IACP 2025, Axon unveiled what it called the next evolution of its connected public safety ecosystem. Key launches included Prepared by Axon, new Axon Assistant and Axon Air Drone as First Responder (DFR) capabilities, and Community Shield and Community Link.
Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →
The first – and worst – time I had to fight to keep my gun, my holster and duty belt held up far better than my training did.
Read More →
Streamlight has launched the Wedge SL, an ultra-thin, USB-C rechargeable light designed for users who want pocketable power.
Read More →
Watch expanded coverage of IACP 2025 as the POLICE Magazine team walks the aisles at the expo and shares what we found interesting on display for chiefs from across the country and around the world this week in Denver, Colorado.
Read More →