Fearing protests, group moves Las Vegas dinner honoring Arpaio
Sep 14, 2017, 5:06 PM
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — A presentation to former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio this weekend at a Las Vegas hotel has been moved for security reasons, an organizer said.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the ex-lawman was set to be honored with the Conservative Leadership Conference’s Courage Under Fire award at a dinner Saturday at the Tropicana but that authorities were concerned with protests.
Arpaio was recently pardoned by President Donald Trump of a conviction for criminal contempt in ignoring federal orders to halt his famous immigration patrols.
The dinner’s date coincided with Mexican Independence Day festivities.
“We spoke with the Tropicana regarding the events going on that weekend and voiced some possible concerns,” Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Larry Hadfield told the newspaper.
He added that any decision on changing venues was not up to the department.
Organizer Chuck Muth of Citizen Outreach blogged that the new location would not be publicized and he was unsure whether Arpaio was attending. In an August post he wrote the 85-year-old was going to be keynote speaker at the event.
Earlier this week, the Department of Justice asked a federal court in Arizona to toss the case against Arpaio.
The self-proclaimed “America’s Toughest Sheriff” was in office for 24 years. He was defeated in the 2016 general election by Paul Penzone.
