PHOENIX — The Town of Guadalupe, which became famous for defying Sheriff Joe Arpaio's efforts to conduct hunts for undocumented immigrants where 51 percent of the residents are Hispanic and 49 percent are Yaqui Native American, is without police services.

The contract between the Sheriff's Office and the Town of Guadalupe was canceled by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. However, town officials wanted 60 days to negotiate with the Sheriff before deciding definitely to terminate the contract.

Once the contract is on track for termination, the town has 180 days, until March, to negotiate a deal that is mutually agreed upon or the contract will end. The vote to end the contract was instigated by Sheriff Arpaio as a result of his confrontation in April with the Town of Guadalupe's former mayor Rebecca Jimenez.

The new mayor, who was chosen after Mayor Jimenez lost a recall vote, wants to work with the Sheriff since the dissolution of the contract leaves the town without any guaranty of public safety. The cities of Phoenix, Tempe and the state Department of Public Safety have all told Town of Guadalupe officials that due to financial and staffing shortages they are unable to help provide police protection to the Town's residents.