Changes
more traditional organization
[[File:SheriffJoeArpaio-252x350.jpg|right|175px]]
'''Joseph Michael Arpaio''' (born June 14, 1932) was the [[sheriff]] of Maricopa County, [[Arizona]] from 1993 to 2017. As sheriff, he was known for being very [[conservative]], as well as tough on crime and on illegal immigration. Left-wing Civil rights organizations such as the [[ACLU]] and [[SPLC]], among others, attacked his strong antiracial pro-illegal immigration stancefiling of hispanic Americans. Arpaio became Sheriff of Maricopa County in 1992 and was re-elected six times. As sheriff, Arpaio headed up the law enforcement agency for the unincorporated area surrounding Phoenix, an area of 9,226 square miles.<ref name=about>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcso.org/Home|title=Welcome to the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office|accessdate=Aug 26, 2017}}</ref>==Early life==Arpaio is the son of immigrant parents, both from Lacedonia, [[Italy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passRecord.asp?MID=06830228630897368576&FNM=NICOLA&LNM=ARPAIO&PLNM=ARPAIO&CGD=M&first_kind=1&last_kind=0&TOWN=null&SHIP=null&RF=2&pID=604303010014 |title=OSIA Honors Sheriff Arpaio |publisher=encyclopedia.com| date=April 1, 2008 |accessdate=Sept 11, 2017}}</ref> His mother died in childbrith, and Arpaio was raised by his father in Springfield, Massachusetts. Arpaio enlisted in the Army at age 18. He served in the Army from 1950 to 1954 in the Medical Department and was stationed in France for part of the time as a military policeman.{{cite web |url=http://www.sheriffjoe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=30 |last=Arpaio |first=Joe |title=Joining the Army |work=Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio |publisher=Committee to Re-Elect Joe Arpaio |date=2008 |accessdate=December 18, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218232919/http://www.sheriffjoe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=30 |archivedate=December 18, 2008}}</ref>
Arpaio was discharged from the Army in 1954, and moved to [[Washington, D.C.]] where he became a police officer. He moving in 1957 to [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] and served as a police officer for six months. Arpaio then worked as a [[special agent]] with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, which later became part of the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sheriffjoe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=35 |title=Re-elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio 2012 |publisher=encyclopedia.com |accessdate=July 14, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218232909/http://www.sheriffjoe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=35 |archivedate=December 18, 2008 }}</ref> Arpaio worked for the DEA for 25 years was promoted to head of the DEA's Arizona operations.
==Politics==
In 2012, he and a group of volunteer investigators claimed to have evidence suggesting that [[Barack Obama]] deliberately forged his birth records in order to be eligible to run for President.<ref>http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/07-03-2012/120708-arizona_sheriff_obama-0/</ref>
Arpaio has been politically active both in Arizona and beyond. For example, in 2010, Arpaio campaigned in Kansas for [[Kris Kobach]] in his bid for Secretary of State.<ref>[http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/14/1403117/arizona-sheriff-arpaio-stumps.html "Arizona sheriff Arpaio stumps for Kobach"], ''Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com'', July 14, 2010.</ref> Arpaio endorsed Donald Trump for President in January 2016.<ref name=politico>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/25/trump-pardons-former-sheriff-arpaio-242053?lo=ap_c1|title=Trump pardons former Sheriff Arpaio|date=Aug 25, 2017|accessdate=Aug 26, 2017}}</ref>
==Sheriff of Maricopa County==Arpaio was defeated for elected Sheriff of Maricopa County in 1992 and was re-election for a seventh term elected in November 2016.<ref>Guarino1996, Ben (November 92000, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/11/09/ariz-sheriff-joe-arpaio-ousted-by-voters-ending-the-24-year-run-of-americas-toughest-sheriff/ Arizona’s Joe Arpaio ousted by voters2004, ending the 24-year run of ‘America’s toughest sheriff’]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 16, 20162008 and 2012.</ref> He did not regret his crackdowns on [[illegal immigration]].<ref>[http://fortune.com/2016/11/13/arpaio-immigration-crackdowns/ Defeated Sheriff Arpaio Has No Regrets About Immigration Crackdowns]. ''Fortune''. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.</ref> The Democrat who succeeded him said he would not continue some of Arpaio's most successful policies, including patrols for illegal immigrants, because the sheriff's office had been enjoined by court orders.<ref name{{cite web |url=cbs16>[http://wwwrecorder.cbsnewsmaricopa.comgov/newselectionresults/arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio-replacement-paul-penzone-tough-odd-choices/ Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio replacement Paul Penzone facing tough and odd choices]archivedelectionresults. ''CBS News'' (from ''AP''). November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016aspx |title=Maricopa County Election Results |publisher=maricopa.gov}}</ref> ==Controversies and opposition==Arpaio was a frequent target of [[liberal]]s who opposed his tough-on-crime policies.
In August 1993, Arpaio started the nation’s largest "tent city" for convicted inmates. The facility held two thousand convicted men and women in canvas tents, something which was criticized by liberals for not having air conditioning in over 100° heat<ref name=cbs16/> and for having inmates subjected to the elements.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mcso.org/Home/Jailsa|title=Jails|accessdate=Aug 26, 2017}}</ref> Those conditions resulted in inmate lawsuits, and Arpaio's Democrat succesor is closing down the facility which he estimates will save $4.5 million per year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tent-city-arizona-crews-dismantling-jail-yards-sheriff-paul-penzone/|title=Crews begin dismantling Joe Arpaio's controversial "Tent City" complex in Arizona|date=May 24, 2017|work=CBS News|accessdate=May 26, 2017}}</ref>
Arpaio drew criticism for his handling of sexual offenses, with at least 400 cases, including several involving child sexual abuse, being 'inadequately investigated' if investigated at all. Some have connected this apparent negligence with the fact that in many cases the victims were illegal immigrants.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/critics-tough-sheriff-botched-sex-crime-cases-185852410.html</ref> During the years 2004 to 2009, Maricopa County paid $14.5 million in claims regarding the sheriff's office, and another $6.4 million for claims against the jail health service for failure to diagnose, deliberate indifference and suicides.<ref name=claims/>
Arpaio and then County Attorney Andrew Thomas launched an "anti-corruption" project that targeted their political enemies and local reporters between 2008 and 2010. Ultimately, all criminal charges were dropped, and the county had to settle lawsuits filed by those that Arpaio and Thomas arrested for a total of $17 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20131218maricopa-county-supervisors-settle-lawsuit-new-times-founders.html|title=Maricopa County supervisors settle lawsuits filed by ‘New Times’ founders, Stapley|date=Dec. 20, 2013|accessdate=Sept. 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/27/sheriff-joe-arpaio-no-conservative-no-hero-no-matter-what-trump-says-jon-gabriel-column/606012001/|title=Sheriff Joe Arpaio is no conservative and no hero, no matter what President Trump says|work=USA Today|date=Aug 27, 2017|accessdate=Sept 11, 2017}}</ref>
In 1999, undercover deputies arrested 18-year old James Saville for plotting to kill Arpaio with a pipe bomb. On July 9, 2003, a Maricopa County Superior Court jury acquitted Saville, finding that the bomb plot was an elaborate publicity stunt to boost Arpaio's reelection bid.<ref>Bommersbach, Jana. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100823214228/http://www.janabommersbach.com/pm-fea-feb05.php Will Sheriff Joe Stop at Nothing?] ''PHOENIX Magazine'', February 2005.</ref> In 2004, Saville sued both Arpaio and Maricopa County for wrongful arrest and entrapment, seeking $10 million in damages. In 2008, the suit was settled by Maricopa County paying Saville $1.6 million.<ref name=claims>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/05/23/20100523maricopa-county-taxpayers-claims.html |title=Claims vs. county cost taxpayers $71 mil |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |date=May 23, 2010 |accessdate=Aug 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dickerson |first=John |url=http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2008/10/arpaios_phony_murder_plot_cost.php |title=A Phony Murder Plot Against Joe Arpaio Winds Up Costing Taxpayers $1.1 Million |publisher=Phoenix New Times |date=October 28, 2008 |accessdate=Aug 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Dougherty, John |url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2004-06-24/news/in-the-crosshairs/ |title=In the Crosshairs |newspaper=Phoenix New Times |date=June 24, 2004 |accessdate=Aug 26, 2017}}</ref>
==Subsequent events==Arpaio was defeated for re-election for a seventh term in November 2016.<ref>Guarino, Ben (November 9, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/11/09/ariz-sheriff-joe-arpaio-ousted-by-voters-ending-the-24-year-run-of-americas-toughest-sheriff/ Arizona’s Joe Arpaio ousted by voters, ending the 24-year run of ‘America’s toughest sheriff’]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 16, 2016.</ref> He did not regret his crackdowns on [[illegal immigration]].<ref>[http://fortune.com/2016/11/13/arpaio-immigration-crackdowns/ Defeated Sheriff Arpaio Has No Regrets About Immigration Crackdowns]. ''Fortune''. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.</ref> The Democrat who succeeded him said he would not continue some of Arpaio's most successful policies, including patrols for illegal immigrants, because the sheriff's office had been enjoined by court orders.<ref name=cbs16>[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio-replacement-paul-penzone-tough-odd-choices/ Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio replacement Paul Penzone facing tough and odd choices]. ''CBS News'' (from ''AP''). November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.</ref> In July 2017, Arpaio was convicted in federal court for misdemeanor contempt of court. On August 25, 2017, President [[Donald Trump]] pardoned Arpaio, noting his over 50 years of "exemplary" public service and fighting illegal immigration in the White House statement of the pardon.<ref>Multiple references:*Spiering, Charlie (August 25, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/25/donald-trump-pardons-sheriff-joe-arpaio/ Donald Trump Pardons Sheriff Joe Arpaio]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 25, 2017.*</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/25/sheriff-joe-arpaio-wins-pardon-from-trump.html Sheriff Joe Arpaio wins pardon from Trump]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved August 25, 2017.*</ref><ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-pardons-former-sheriff-arpaio/4001646.html Trump Pardons Ex-Arizona Sheriff Arpaio]. ''Voice of America''. August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.*</ref><ref>Trott, Bill (August 25, 2017). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-arpaio-idUSKCN1B600O Trump pardons ex-Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved August 25, 2017.*</ref><ref>Boyer, Dave; Dinan, Stephen (August 25, 2017). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/25/joe-arpaio-pardoned-donald-trump/ Trump pardons Arpaio, citing his ‘exemplary service’ to the nation]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved August 25, 2017.</ref>
==Personal life==
