Guadalupe leader rejects Arpaio’s school posse

A Guadalupe leader said his town does not want Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s volunteer posse to patrol schools in his city.

Coucilmember Andrew Sanchez said the armed posse members are underqualified and may present a threat to the town.

“We cannot track them,” he said. “We cannot hold them accountable for issues. If they decide to go out and commit crimes against our children, what are we going to do?”

Sanchez said Arpaio and his deputies have raised numerous controversial issues, including abuse of authority, racial profiling and tampering with evidence.

“We feel this is not the time or place for political posturing,” he added.

Arpaio was quick to fire back against Sanchez’s statments.

“He’s using the politics,” said Arpaio. “He’s trying to throw in the racial allegations into this program and that is sickening. That is sickening for him to use kids and teachers for political reasons.”