Posted by Tina
** PHOENIX (AP) Federal authorities told a high-profile Arizona sheriff Tuesday that they will investigate his department over allegations of discrimination and unconstitutional searches and seizures. *** The U.S. Justice Department said in a letter to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio that investigators will focus on alleged patterns of police discrimination based on national origin. *** The letter offers no specific allegations. But Arpaio said he believes the investigation was spurred by his department’s often controversial efforts to combat illegal immigration in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. *** Arpaio’s department is the largest participant in a federal program that allows local police departments to enforce federal immigration laws. *** The department has aggressively pursued investigations under Arizona’s employer sanctions law and a state anti-smuggling law. **