Sheriff Joe Arpaio plans to appeal the first round of punishments issued over his decision to prolong his immigration patrols months after a judge in a racial profiling case had ordered them stopped.
The lawman filed court papers Thursday saying he intended on appealing a July 20 court order that requires an overhaul of sheriff's internal affairs investigations.
The judge found Arpaio's internal investigations into officer misconduct were fraught with biased decision-making and had been manipulated to shield sheriff's officials from accountability.
The punishments were handed down after a judge found the sheriff in civil contempt-of-court for ignoring the immigration patrol order.
Federal prosecutors are mulling whether to bring a criminal contempt case against Arpaio that could expose him to jail time.
Arpaio says his contempt violations weren't intentional.
