Associated Press
PHOENIX — A prominent national advocacy group for Latinos has joined a call for the self-proclaimed “America’s toughest sheriff” to resign from office amid a wide range of civil rights violations, botched sex crimes investigations and other alleged abuses.
In a news conference Thursday in Phoenix, National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia called Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio “America’s worst sheriff” and says it’s time for him to resign.
Her group long has been critical of Arpaio but called for his resignation for the first time Thursday because Murguia says not enough has been done locally to remove him from office.
The five-term sheriff has raised more than $1.1 million in the past year for his re-election campaign.
His office says it doesn’t discriminate against Latinos.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press