| Joe Arpaio | |
|---|---|
| Arpaio speaking in Phoenix on February 26, 2011 | |
| Maricopa County Sheriff | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 1993 |
|
| Preceded by | Tom Agnos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph M. Arpaio (1932-06-14) June 14, 1932 (age 80) Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Ava Arpaio |
| Occupation | Sheriff |
Joseph M. "Joe" Arpaio (born June 14, 1932) is the elected sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. First voted into office in 1992, Arpaio is responsible for law enforcement in Maricopa County. Since 2005, he has taken an outspoken stance against illegal immigration, and has become a flashpoint for controversy surrounding Arizona's SB1070 anti-illegal immigration act. He is well known for publicity seeking, and styles himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff." He is being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice and in a separate class-action matter for racial profiling. Arpaio is also known for his investigation of President Barack Obama's birth certificate, and his claim that it is forged.
Read more about Joe Arpaio: History and Law Enforcement Background, Authority As Maricopa County Sheriff, Books