PHOENIX (AP) – As frustrations mounted a decade ago over illegal immigration, Sheriff Joe Arpaio created an elite squad to crack down on smugglers and, in the process, became known across the country as a tough-talking lawman willing to step in where the federal government wouldn’t.
The fame helped the top law enforcer in Arizona’s largest county attract a steady stream of endorsement requests from politicians and contributions for his own re-election campaigns.
Now, however, the disbanded squad has turned into a worsening legal liability, the thorniest one that he has faced in his 22 years as Maricopa County sheriff. It has forced Arpaio to do something unexpected: tone down his normally unapologetic rhetoric.
A judge will hold hearings beginning Tuesday over whether to hold the sheriff and the squad’s leader in contempt of court for letting Arpaio’s immigration patrols continue for about 18 months after he was ordered to stop them in a racial profiling case.
The sheriff has offered to publicly apologize for his acknowledged violation.