The federal judge presiding over a racial profiling case against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio handed down the first round of punishments Wednesday for the lawman's decision to prolong his signature immigration patrols months after he was told to stop.
Judge G. Murray Snow’s civil contempt ruling against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and others identified internal investigations that were never completed, or done improperly.
In a 67-page ruling, Snow gave a pair of independent authorities power to review at least a dozen internal affairs probes, and potentially hand down punishment.
The ACLU of Arizona is one of the plaintiffs in the case. Senior Counsel Dan Pachoda says independent authorities’ powers go beyond the previous court-appointed monitor’s.
It’s a significant step when you actually tell the sheriff that there’s a certain area that’s generally under MCSO control that will no longer be under MCSO control. At least for some period of time," Pachoda said.
Additional penalties are expected against the 84-year-old lawman who calls himself "America's Toughest Sheriff" and built his political reputation by cracking down on immigrants in the country illegally.
Both sides are due in court again on Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
