Voices of Arizona is a special segment where we shine a spotlight on everyday Arizonans who help make our state an extraordinary place to live.
This story is about a native Phoenician keeping close tabs on a racial profiling lawsuit that’s almost as old as he is.
Albert Rivera was about 2 years old when the case known as Melendres was filed in 2007 against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, which got a new leader this year.
“Jerry Sheridan, as we all know, was Joe Arpaio's righthand man,” Rivera said.
Arpaio was sheriff until 2017.
Now 20, Rivera has spent the last year-plus trying to inspire young people to learn about the case.
“I always try to be very humble about it, because I'm just a regular punk musician, basically running my mouth against Sheridan,” Rivera said.
Rivera is a drummer, and recently played the Arizona State Fair. Rehearsal schedules give him freedom to keep up with the case.
“I believe that Jerry Sheridan would be very, and I mean very, very retaliatory against those of us that have criticized him and that have criticized Arpaio in the past,” Rivera said.
The Sheriff’s Office remains under federal oversight with court orders to fix internal affairs and end racial profiling.
The quarterly meetings are meant to update work by the Sheriff’s Office. And, for the first time, Wednesday's meeting is scheduled to take place at the federal courthouse in downtown Phoenix.
The meeting was moved by the judge overseeing the case after security concerns rose at the last meeting. And several members of the Board of Supervisors showed up to complain about the price of oversight.
