A 15-year-old case could force MCSO to process internal investigations quicker
Published: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 - 1:17pm
Updated: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 - 2:01pm
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Sydney McCourt
Katya Schwenk
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone is facing a contempt of court charge over a 15-year-old case started under his predecessor.
Ortega Melendres v. Arpaio was filed in 2007 over racial profiling committed by the office of former sheriff Joe Arpaio. But since Penzone has been sheriff, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has failed to comply with court mandates.
The office hasn’t been processing internal investigations quickly enough per these orders, creating a backlog of personnel complaints that haven’t been addressed. The contempt charge could make it easier to force the MCSO to comply.
To explain more about how this pressure will affect the case, The Show spoke with Phoenix New Times reporter Katya Schwenk.
