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MCSO’s Sweeps Under the Watchful Eye of Mesa Police Department
Mesa, Arizona - 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.
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.
By Eduardo Barraza June 27, 2008
Mesa Police Chief George Gascón (left) allowed MCSO to exercise its
jurisdiction in Mesa. However, he kept control of the situation in his city's
streets. (Right) This sheriff department's vehicle pulled over this truck. The
driver was let go within minutes, after he showed a valid driver's license.
No traffic citation was issued.
Photos by Eduardo Barraza | Barriozona
jurisdiction in Mesa. However, he kept control of the situation in his city's
streets. (Right) This sheriff department's vehicle pulled over this truck. The
driver was let go within minutes, after he showed a valid driver's license.
No traffic citation was issued.
Photos by Eduardo Barraza | Barriozona
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Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
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