Permission to reprint or copy this article or photo, other than personal use, must be obtained from BARRIOZONA,
Call 480-983-1445 or e-mail admin@barriozona.com with your request
MCSO’s Sweeps Under the Watchful Eye
of Mesa Police Department
By Eduardo Barraza
BARRIOZONA
June 27, 2008
Mesa, Arizona (June 27, 2008)— The first day of the long-announced and controversial Maricopa County Sheriff
Department’s immigration sweep in the city of Mesa developed in the midst of marked and unmarked sheriff vehicles
patrolling the streets, and a Mesa Police Department’s operation to maintain the order.
As it happened since the second day of a similar operation in the town of Guadalupe on April 4, the deployment of MCSO’s
special vehicles in public parking lots surrounded by protesters did not occur, since the sheriff department chose —as
predicted— to use its facilities in the county complex in Mesa.
The Mesa Police Department’s operation appeared to dent the approach in which the MCSO conducted previous
operations both in Phoenix and Guadalupe. While the MPD’s operation allowed the county sheriff to exercise its
jurisdiction in Mesa, it restricted the usual and excessive display of resources by the sheriff department. Moreover, it
curtailed the likeness of volatile and dangerous confrontations among protesters, as the ones seen in Phoenix.
In contrast to previous immigration sweeps, Sheriff Joe Arpaio was a no-show. Both in Phoenix and Guadalupe, he made
personal appearances and offered public press conferences. This time he reacted from his downtown Phoenix' office,
harshly criticizing Mesa Police Chief George Gascón. Sheriff Arpaio threatened his department will not communicate with
MPD in similar future operations.
The head of the MCSO accused the Mesa Police Chief of wasting taxpayer’s money for deploying dozens of police officers
to prevent a dangerous environment. Similar accusations have been common against Sheriff Arpaio, such as an
excessive use of resources.
Mesa Police closed Lewis Street and Javelina Avenue where demonstrators gathered around the Maricopa County
Southeast Regional Campus. Police officers, patrol cars and barricades set boundaries and distance between free-
speech designated zones for each group of protesters. Latino activists and members of the community represented a
much larger group than those who support the sheriff’s operation.
A second day of operation has been announced to continue on Friday, June 27.
Copyright © 2008 Hispanic Institute of Social Issues
Grassroots Journalism
www.barriozona.com
|
Sheriff Arpaio throws a tantrum, criticizes Mesa Police for similar actions his department has done.