U.S. Marshals Make Arrest in Identity Theft and Parental Abduction Case‏

Eric Timberman, the United States Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico, would like to announce that Janeth Valenzuela, wanted by the United States Marshals Service for Identity Theft and by the Phoenix, Arizona Police Department for Parental Abduction, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals led Puerto Rico Fugitive Task Force today.

Source: U.S. Marshals

Another Tool To Fight Against Blight

iPhone Application

In June, the city of Phoenix launched a free iPhone app that allows residents to report blight violations to the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) with a simple point, click and send. The iPhone’s built-in global positioning technology allows the user to attach an address to the picture.

iPhone users may download the myPhxAZ application for free from the iPhone App Store by searching for the keyword “myPhoenix” and selecting myPhxAz. Once installed, users will simply open the application and follow the prompts to take a picture of the violation and then tap “submit.”

The “myPhxAz” application was created at no charge to the city by Graffiti Protective Coatings, a graffiti cleanup company that serves Arizona city, county and state agencies.

NSD is receiving an average of 20 iPhone blight reports each week. In the future it hopes to roll out similar applications for residents who use Blackberries and other popular hand-held devices.

Phoenix has received calls and e-mails from other government agencies around the nation who are interested in developing their own iPhone app, ranging from Valley cities to counties and cities in Florida, Texas and California.

Phoenix residents without iPhones can continue to report blight by e-mail at blight@phoenix.gov and by phone at 602-262-7844.

Source: City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department

Sheriff Joe Arpaio makes Lou Ferrigno AKA The Incredible Hulk, an honorary deputy

Sheriff Joe Arpaio moments ago made the renowned actor and body builder, Lou Ferrigno AKA The Incredible Hulk, an honorary deputy in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Ferrigno, a big supporter of Arpaio and of SB1070, agreed to take on his first assignment as deputy and will act as Sheriff Arpaio’s personal body guard during tomorrow night’s Stand Up Arizona rally at the Tempt Diablo Stadium.

Arpaio is slated to be the rally’s keynote speaker and is poised to take the stage at 8:45PM, shortly after his 8PM scheduled arrival time.

With upwards of 20 to 30 thousand open borders activists in town this weekend for a rally of their own, Arpaio is grateful for all the protection he can get tomorrow.

“He’s one big guy,” Arpaio says. “And I hear you don’t want to make him angry….”

Source: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

Statement from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is confused and deeply concerned about the temporary county attorney’s recent decision to reverse the successful policies of the former elected county attorney.

Rick Romley’s statements today indicate the fact that he will no longer charge illegal immigrants under the felony state law as co-conspirators.

This approach is essentially an amnesty policy that protects illegal immigrants who have conspired to violate the state law by entering into agreements with smugglers to transport them into Arizona illegally.

The Sheriff’s Office feels this position is not consistent with the will of the people of Maricopa County who elected Sheriff Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas in part because of their tough stance on illegal immigration enforcement and is inconsistent with Romley’s claim of getting tough on organized crime.

Despite Rick Romley’s decision to pick and choose which laws to enforce, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office will continue to enforce all aspects of illegal immigration laws.

Source: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

U.S. Marshals Add Drug Trafficker to 15 Most Wanted Fugitive List‏

The U.S. Marshals Service added Enrique Done to their 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list today. Done is wanted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in Newark, N.J., and has been charged for his alleged role as the leader of an international drug trafficking conspiracy.

Source: U.S. Marshals

Phoenix Police seeks COPS volunteers

City employees, retirees and members of the community who are interested in donating their time and talent to the city will find a rewarding volunteer opportunity in COPS – Citizens Offering Police Support.

Last fiscal year, 210 Phoenix residents served as COPS volunteers, saving the city almost $620,000. The Police Department hopes to double the budget savings with a corresponding increase in volunteers, according to Officer Larry Horton, who coordinates the program.

COPS volunteers work in many capacities, including code enforcement, traffic control, crime analysis and research, and public affairs. They also support such programs as Silent Witness, the Motorist Assist Program (MAP) and Accessibility Compliance Enforcement (ACE).

While most people have heard of Silent Witness, MAP and ACE also provide vital services to the community. MAP volunteers help motorists who are experiencing vehicular problems on city streets, while ACE volunteers issue citations to motorists who park in spots reserved for drivers with disabilities.

Prospective volunteers must be at least 18, undergo a background check, take a polygraph and be interviewed.

For more information about COPS, call Larry Horton at 602-262-7218 or visit http://www.phoenix.gov.

Source: City of Phoenix

SHERIFF ARPAIO INTRODUCES A NEW VIDEO BOOK CLUB...

SHERIFF ARPAIO INTRODUCES A NEW VIDEO BOOK CLUB...AIMED AT LESSENING THE PAIN OF SEPARATION BETWEEN INMATE AND CHILD

Separation between parent and child is always difficult but no more so than when the parent is in jail. Visits can be awkward, phone calls are short and costly to the family and letter writing is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Easing some of the pain of separation is the reason behind Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s introduction of a new literacy program called “A.B.C. -Arpaio’s Book Club.”

The program consists of inmates recording a book of their choice on a DVD which is then edited and mailed to the home of the inmate’s child. The inmate could be the father or mother or aunt or grandmother – whoever acts as a primary or secondary caregiver to a child.

Books for the program, Arpaio says, have all been donated from local sources including libraries, book vendors as well as from individuals.

The only costs associated with the program are minimal – the DVDs themselves and postage. The filming and editing are done by detention officers from the Inmate Programs division, a part of the office largely funded by canteen sales, vending machines sales and phone calls made to family and friends by inmates.

Source: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office