The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) and Protect America Now are the most prominent public-facing “Constitutional Sheriffs” organizations in the United States. Domestic extremist research groups have identified them as anti-government, anti-democratic, or far-right groups.
Whether or not sheriffs adopt the movement’s core ideology depends on how they perform their jobs, such as how they interact with voters and other government agencies, as opposed to the moniker they call themselves constitutional sheriffs. is a more important factor about what to work on. To that end, AZCIR used additional criteria beyond group affiliation to define which sheriffs are part of the militant “constitutional sheriff” movement.
The movement is built on the radical ideology that the sheriff’s authority within the county is not supplanted by state or federal agencies, but is guided by the sheriff’s interpretation of the United States Constitution. Nullification, or refusal to enforce laws and orders that the sheriff deems unconstitutional, is a core part of the ideology.
AZCIR used criteria established by the Southern Poverty Law Center and confirmed these methods with another domestic extremism expert.
To be identified as a “constitutional sheriff,” a sheriff must meet at least one of the following four criteria:
- The Sheriff is a member of the CSPOA or is directly affiliated with the group through one of the following: Hosts, participates in, or participates in broadcasts coordinated by the CSPOA, but does not express its beliefs in the group and/or public comment; No public denunciations. or statement.
- The sheriff supports the CSPOA or its leader Richard Mack.
- Sheriffs are leaders of the Advisory Board, Protect America Now, or hold another leadership position within the organization.
- The Sheriff has demonstrated, through rhetoric or actions consistent with the movement, that he understands and supports the ideology of the “Constitutional Sheriff.” It generally refuses to enforce any current or future law or obligation within county boundaries and describes the law or obligation as follows: Illegal.
AZCIR compared this standard to Sheriff’s social media posts, media appearances, public statements, open letters, interviews, and relevant documents such as emails and other public records. AZCIR also made repeated attempts by phone and email to interview each Arizona sheriff about his position on the movement.
Based on AZCIR methodology, Protect America Now membership alone is not sufficient for a sheriff to be called a “constitutional sheriff.” The group was added to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s anti-government extremist list in 2021, so it’s unclear whether its members are aware of the extent to which the organization’s leaders spread extremist ideology.
Apache County Sheriff | Joe Deadman Jr.
Status: i don’t know
Did not respond to multiple requests for comment. AZCIR found no indication that Deadman endorsed the movement’s core ideology or overriding the law.
Apache County Sheriff’s Office website
Cochise County Sheriff | Mark Dunnells
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
AZCIR has confirmed that Dannels is the speaker for the 2019 CSPOA event. He openly supports the nullification of certain laws or orders. Dunnells declined to be interviewed for this article.
Cochise County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Carol Capas said in response to an interview request from AZCIR, “Sheriff Dunnells is currently fully booked for other assignments in the near future. I can not do it.
Cochise County Sheriff’s Office website
Coconino County Sheriff | Jim Driscoll
Status: i don’t know
Refusal to interview. AZCIR found no indication that Driscoll supported the movement’s core ideology or overriding the law.
In response to a request for an interview from AZCIR, Coconino County spokesman John Paxton said, “The sheriff has advised that he has no opinion or position on the constitutional sheriff movement.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office website
Gila County Sheriff | J. Adam Shepard
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
Shepard has spoken publicly about invalidating at least one law or order that he deems unconstitutional. He is not a member of Protect America Now and there is no clear relationship between him and his CSPOA. He did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Gila County Sheriff’s Office website
Graham County Sheriff | Preston “PJ” Allred
Status: not clear
Did not respond to multiple requests for comment. AZCIR found no indication that Allred supports the movement’s core ideology or overriding the law.
Graham County Sheriff’s Office website
Greenlee County Sheriff | Tim Sumner
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
Sumner is a member of Protect America Now. He has spoken publicly about invalidating at least one law or order that he deems unconstitutional.Sumner did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office website
La Paz County Sheriff | William Ponke
Status: not a constitutional sheriff
Ponce is a member of Protect America Now, who describes himself as a “constitutional sheriff.” Ponce said he felt more comfortable being a member of the organization than belonging to the CSPOA because the CSPOA is “a little more powerful” in “presenting and interpreting the Constitution.”・Not knowing that America Now was classified as an extremist organization, he said it was “unfortunate”.
Ponce calls himself a “constitutional sheriff,” but says that “because we have different views and thought processes about how this works,” there are “certain other people” who make the same claim. I don’t want to be with people from
“I cannot make the decision not to enforce it [a law]’, Ponce told AZCIR. “If it’s an actual law, I have to enforce it.”
La Paz County Sheriff’s Office website
Maricopa County Sheriff | Paul Penzone
Status: Not a constitutional sheriff.
Penzone, who calls himself a “constitutional sheriff,” is far from conforming to the movement’s ideology. Penzone condemned the “weaponization of the Constitution” as a way to advance the ideological and political beliefs of sheriffs and groups.
“I expect anyone taking the oath of office to do so with the understanding that the Constitution is the foundation,” he told AZCIR. “It turned out to be almost an exaggeration or embellishment, almost like your efforts. [as a constitutional sheriff]
surpass others. ”
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Website
Mojave County Sheriff | Doug Schuster
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
Schuster has never denied being called a “constitutional sheriff” and has spoken publicly about invalidating at least one law or order that he deems unconstitutional. not known to be related to He did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Mojave County Sheriff’s Office website
Navajo County Sheriff | David Claus
Status: i don’t know
Did not respond to multiple requests for comment. AZCIR found no indication that Cluse supports the movement’s core ideology or overriding the law.
Navajo County Sheriff’s Office website
Pima County Sheriff | Chris Nanos
Status: not a constitutional sheriff
Nanos condemned the constitutional sheriff movement and the nullification of the law.
“The constitutional sheriff has taken over law enforcement. They have been nothing but a political adventure. They have lost their integrity,” Nanos told AZCIR. “If voters wanted a constitutional sheriff, they would vote, but to me, that’s not what this job is about.”
Pima County Sheriff’s Department website
Pinal County Sheriff | Mark Lamb
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
Lam is the frontman of Protect America Now. He used to be involved with the CSPOA, but since then he has tried to distance himself from the organization.
Speaking at the 2020 CSPOA event in Virginia, Lam recalls a conversation he had with CSPOA Founder Richard Mack and CSPOA Vice President Rick Dalton before becoming Pinal County Sheriff.
“We had a deep discussion about the Constitution. I promised myself to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States as I have promised everyone I’ve ever met,” Lamb said to a crowd of law enforcement officers. “We left that meeting that day very optimistic about where we’re going in the future.”
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Website
Santa Cruz County | David Hathaway
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
Hathaway is not known to be associated with the Constitutional Sheriff’s Organization. I disagree with the idea that he is the ultimate authority in his county.
“It’s not appropriate for the sheriff to say, ‘I have final authority over everything in the county.’ It’s not true,” Hathaway told AZCIR.
Hathaway recognizes the potential threat posed by an overreaching executive branch, including the sheriff.
“There is a risk that the executive branch will become too powerful, and in other countries there will be a coup of the executive branch,” he told AZCIR.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office website
Yavapai County Sheriff | David Rose
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
Rhodes has not identified himself as a constitutional sheriff, but he welcomed the label when it was applied to him by voters. No, but CSPOA founder Richard Mack claims to have had “many contacts” with Rhodes.
“I have no intention of enforcing these executive orders[that cover gun control],” Rhodes told members of the Yavapai County Preparedness Team, a local Oath Keepers group, in September. period.”
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office website
Yuma County Sheriff | Leon Wilmot
Status: “Constitutional Sheriff” Confirmed
Wilmot was commended by the CSPOA in 2022 for investigating election fraud. He was listed on that website as a “sheriff dedicated to investigating election fraud.” AZCIR found nothing to strongly indicate that the relationship went both ways, but Wilmot publicly endorsed the core ideological aspects of his CSPOA.
“he [Sheriff Wilmot] He says he is not a member of the organization and is not aware of any movement,” Yuma public relations specialist Tania Pavrack wrote when she declined Wilmot’s request for an interview.
