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Arizona sheriff’s office misused millions meant to remedy racial profiling, report reveals
An audit found 72% of the $226 million reported for Melendres compliance was overstated due to misattributed or unjustified expenses, undermining financial transparency.
- On Oct. 8, an audit found $30 million was improperly attributed to the Melendres racial profiling case, with Maricopa County and the Sheriff's Office overstating compliance costs.
- Since the 2008 lawsuit and 2013 orders, Maricopa County and MCSO faced incentives to shift costs outside the state constitution spending limit amid oversight monitoring since around 2014.
- The audit flagged $2.8 million for surplus body-worn camera licenses, over $1.3 million for 42 vehicles, and found 70% of positions funded by compliance money were misassigned.
- U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow allowed Maricopa County and Sheriff Jerry Sheridan 35 days to respond, while the sheriff's attorneys review the report and accounting rules will be set after disputes.
- The county says 323 million has been spent so far and expects to reach 352 million by July 2026, while critics warn misattribution undermines trust.
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Associated Press News+17 Reposted by 17 other sources
Arizona sheriff's office misused millions meant to remedy racial profiling, report reveals
The sheriff’s office for metro Phoenix has spent millions of dollars budgeted for compliance costs in a racial profiling case over Joe Arpaio’s immigration crackdowns on things that had little or nothing to do with a court-ordered overhaul of the agency.
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources21
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Center
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
55% Center
L 35%
C 55%
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