Concerns Grow Over Federal Surveillance Costs in Maricopa County

Federal oversight resulting from the Mellendres order, projected to cost Maricopa County taxpayers $353 million by 2026, is being called into question by Superintendent Thomas Galvin. He believes such oversight may no longer be necessary.

Another supervisor, Debbie Lesco, is echoing these sentiments, labeling the financial burden as “unacceptable.” In her view, allocating funds to court-appointed monitors doesn’t directly enhance neighborhood safety—it’s essential to invest more in the sheriff’s department.

The Mellendres order arose after the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office was found to have violated the constitutional rights of Hispanic individuals, engaging in unlawful racial profiling and traffic stops targeting Latinos. Following a lawsuit in 2007, the Sheriff’s Office has been under federal supervision to enforce policy reforms.

During a recent meeting, the Sheriff’s Office provided updates on the federal monitoring. Galvin, who has been a supervisor for nearly four years, expressed concern over the exorbitant tax money being spent on compliance. He noted that since the Mellendres order has been in place since 2013, the upcoming costs to taxpayers have been significant.

“Voters are just not benefiting from the systems we have,” stated Galvin. He appreciated having community members present to ask tough questions of federal manager Robert Warshaw, although he expressed frustration that Warshaw was evasive on several issues, including his salary.

Warshaw has been overseeing the Sheriff’s Office since 2014, and Galvin mentioned that more than $2 million annually goes to Warshaw and his team. He posed a critical question: “Does Warshaw have an incentive to report that the sheriff’s office has improved?” He argued that many allegations raised in the 2007 lawsuit have not been adequately addressed.

Galvin noted that the benchmarks for compliance seem to keep shifting. He questioned the rationale behind the continued federal oversight and Warshaw’s role in reporting on the Sheriff’s Office.

During the same meeting, Warshaw asserted that the Sheriff’s Office had made significant progress and indicated that federal oversight wouldn’t be a permanent fixture. Meanwhile, Galvin pointed out that Warshaw is also monitoring law enforcement in Oakland and Louisville, raising further doubts about his capacity and motives.

This year, the NAACP urged investigations into Warshaw after the former Oakland Police Chief faced administrative leave due to mishandling investigations at two police stations.

Since the Mellendres order’s inception, Maricopa County has seen four different sheriffs. Current Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, Galvin claimed, lacks the ability to run the office effectively due to Warshaw’s scrutiny, leaving him with “both hands tied behind his back.” Galvin stressed that for the price of $353 million, these funds could have been better spent on increasing salaries for sheriff’s deputies, detention officers, and emergency dispatch personnel.

He noted that the Sheriff’s Office currently has 26% of its positions unfilled, attributing this to the detrimental effects of federal oversight on recruitment and retention efforts. Moreover, he emphasized that lighting a spotlight on the federal monitors is a top priority for the oversight committee chair this year.

The next gathering concerning the Mellendres order is scheduled for October, with Galvin planning to alert committee members to attend and pose insightful questions.

Efforts to contact the U.S. Department of Justice for comments yielded no immediate response.