Learn more about the candidates in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s race: Democrat Tyler Kampf and Republican Jerry Sheridan.
Current Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner was appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on February 8, 2024, following the resignation of Paul Penzone. He lost to Mr. Kampf in the Democratic primary.
Maricopa is the largest county in Arizona and the fourth largest county in the United States. The sheriff oversees 3,500 employees, including sworn deputies, jail staff, and civilian employees. MCSO is currently under federal court-ordered oversight as a result of a decade-old ruling that found the department racially profiled Latino drivers.
tyler kampf
party: Democratic Party
Website: kampforsheriff.com
Kampf had a long career with the Phoenix Police Department, holding multiple positions including gang enforcement sergeant and homicide detective. He ousted Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner in July. Before Skinner, Democrat Paul Penzone served as county sheriff. Penzone will step down in 2024, and his replacement can only be from the same party. Mr. Skinner was a Republican, but changed his party affiliation and was elected.
Kampf said on his campaign website that he wants to “build on the success” of Penzone. As ABC15 first reported, after Kampf left, the Phoenix Police Department claimed it was “proven” that he had sexually harassed officers, but the investigation continued until Kampf had already left the department. was not carried out. Kampf told ABC15 that hundreds of text messages he sent to officers were taken out of context. As part of Kamp’s campaign platform. He said he wants to create a task force to share information across all law enforcement agencies and give inmates tools to reduce recidivism.
jerry sheridan
party: Republican Party
Website: sheridan4sheriff2024.com
A former executive member of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is now running for the top position in the sheriff’s office himself. Sheridan was the department’s chief deputy under controversial former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for his tough anti-illegal immigration policies and convictions for racial profiling.
Sheridan ran against Arpaio in 2020 and won the primary, but lost in the general election to Democrat Paul Penzone, who resigned. Mr. Penzone was replaced by Mr. Skinner, who lost in the primary election.
Sheridan was a featured speaker at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Glendale on Aug. 23. In his speech, Mr. Sheridan said he would put people who abuse animals behind bars.
“If you’re abusing an animal, you’re probably abusing your family,” he says. He also spoke about fighting homelessness by getting people to seek medical help, fighting back against the fentanyl trade and defending civil liberties.
