Border & Immigration

AZ Latino Politicians React to Feds Report on Sheriff Arpaio's Office

By Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez / Senior Field Correspondent

Published December 16, 2011 at 12:32 PM PST

This story was published more than 12 years ago.

Latino politicians and community leaders at a press conference following DOJ announcement.

Community Leaders Concerned Report Doesn't Go Far Enough

Local politicians and community leaders praised the federal government for its findings that the Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s deputies targeted Latinos.

At a press conference in south Phoenix, more than a dozen state lawmakers, city councilmen, county supervisors and community activists said their complaints were finally heard. Maricopa County Supervisor, and longtime Arpaio critic, Mary Rose Wilcox said the next step is for Arpaio to explain himself.

“The report says you comply by Jan. 4th -- give a written report how you are going to comply (and) we are going to monitor it. He’s not gonna do it,” said Wilcox. “He’s gonna' blow it. He cannot take saying that he’s wrong and that’s what he’s gonna have to admit.”

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Local leaders said the DOJ report only exposes some of the alleged problems. Salvador Reza is a community activist. He said the report does not assure that Arpaio is removed from office. “He’s not gonna get out of office. Unless he’s indicted and if he doesn’t get indicted then they’re leaving it up to the voters to do it. Now that’s gonna' create one more political battle in Arizona,” said Reza.

The board of supervisors has been working through numerous civil-rights lawsuits brought against Arpaio’s office. Supervisor Wilcox says the DOJ’s announcement will likely prompt more people to file lawsuits.

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Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez

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Nadine is a Senior Field Correspondent (Phoenix) who focuses on stories throughout the southwest and issues that directly affect Arizona’s Latino community. She is an Emmy-nominated journalist and a Telly Award winner. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and earned a Masters in Education from Northern Arizona University. She comes from a lengthy background in communications. Her broadcasting career includes Arizona’s PBS station KAET-TV. She was a producer and correspondent for the public affairs programs Horizon and Horizonte. While in Chicago, she hosted on-air bilingual pledge drives for WTTW Channel 11 (PBS), making her the only bilingual pledge host at the time. She was a general assignment reporter for Tribune Company’s ChicagoLand Television News, Univision affiliate WCIU-TV Channel 26 and WYCC-TV. She also worked for Comiskey Park (now U.S. Cellular Field), the home of the Chicago White Sox and United Center (Chicago Bulls) Scoreboard Operations. She co-produced a bilingual television parenting program on both Chicago’s Telemundo and WYCC-TV Channel 20. Aside from her broadcasting career, she served in various roles in public relations, community outreach, and marketing. Her extensive public sector experience extends to several departments of the City of Chicago, Mayor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs, and the U.S. Congress. Other professional experience includes Vice President of Community Outreach for the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee. Currently, she mentors and teaches public radio writing and reporting to inner city students and participates in journalism workshops for high school students throughout the Phoenix area. Her goal is to teach journalism in a higher education institution, while continuing her mentorship initiative. She was born in Puerto Rico to Puerto Rican and Belgian parents, and raised on Chicago’s southside in La Villita (a predominantly Mexican community). This diverse background taught her valuable lessons in various Latino cultures and informs her insight into issues of great interest to Latino families and business community.

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