Phoenix (AZ Family) — The two candidates in the Maricopa County sheriff race faced off in their second debate Wednesday night.

What you need to know about the candidates

Democrat Tyler Kamp, a former Phoenix police lieutenant, is facing off against Republican Jerry Sheridan, who served as a deputy sheriff under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Both candidates have extensive law enforcement experience but also have controversial pasts.

Sheridan served in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office when he was convicted of racial profiling in 2013 for targeting Hispanics during traffic stops.

Kamp, meanwhile, switched parties in December to run as a Democrat and served with the Phoenix Police Department for more than 20 years until his retirement in 2021.

The former police lieutenant attacked Sheridan over the reputation of the sheriff's office and court rulings.

“There was an overreach of government power. We saw discrimination, discrimination against people of color. It has cost us money, it has broken trust with our communities and it has cost us over $350 million,” Kamp said.

A federal monitor has been appointed to oversee the department, and the reforms have cost taxpayers nearly $400 million and counting.

Arpaio opposed these reforms, even though Sheridan was by his side at many of the announcements.

“I worked with the warden for over three years to lay the foundation for future compliance,” Sheridan said of his involvement, “and that's exactly what I did and will continue to work on that. This is a very complex issue.”

Sheridan previously told Arizona's Family that he would like to revive Arpaio's controversial Tent City in some form, and he provided a bit more context during the second debate.

“What I would like to do is bring back that same type of housing. We can't bring back 'tent cities,' but the reason I would like to do that is because it plays a key role in managing the inmates throughout the prison,” Sheridan said during Wednesday's debate. “But the role it plays is to allow for work release furloughs, and I have a lot of support from the Legislature.” Defense BarThey are not Republicans.”

Sheridan also Brady ListA list of public safety officials with questionable credibility.

Kamp has faced controversy himself: Last year, a female officer accused him of sexually harassing her during his final year with the police force.

A City of Phoenix investigation found Officer Kamp guilty of sending dozens of inappropriate text messages while in training and under his chain of command.

During the debate, Sheridan made unfounded accusations that Kamp had sex with a police assistant while on the job.

When asked by investigators about the allegations, Kampf said he didn't remember the content of the text messages, denied the harassment, and said he couldn't provide screenshots of the text messages because he went to Africa after retiring and lost his cell phone.

After the debate, Kamp told reporters that this claim and others of his own were “completely inaccurate.”

“It's disappointing, but I'm not surprised,” the Democrat said. “He's copied exactly what Arpaio did.”

The winner will replace Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner, who was appointed after Sheriff Paul Penzone resigned but lost to Kamp in the July primary.

Fact-checking the claims at Wednesday's debate

Arizona family investigates As part of our commitment to holding politicians accountable before, during and after the election, we fact-checked the claims made in Wednesday's debate.

Claim: Sheridan says the inmates voluntarily chose to go to Tent City.

Fact check: Mostly true ✅

“Tent City” was an outdoor detention facility set up by then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

According to the Arizona Family News Archives, more than 300 pre-sentenced inmates were moved to “Tent City” in July 2004 because the Durango prison was overcrowded. This was the first time that pre-sentenced inmates were housed in an open-air prison.

Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods said at a 2017 press conference that inmates choose “tent cities” because they are outdoors and offer more space.

“This speaks to this negative image we've had since 1993. We've been very tough on Maricopa County inmates and we've been treating them this way, and this is wrong,” Woods said.

Then-Sheriff Paul Penzone stopped using Tent City when he took office in 2017, describing the facility as “a circus-like atmosphere for the general public.”

Penzone said at the time that “tent cities” had become a safety concern for jail officials and a “location of choice for inmates.”

“We're going to give criminals something they don't want – jail time,” Penzone said.

Claims: Kamp's alleged harassment

Fact check: we need context ⚠️

Tyler Kamp was investigated after a female trainee came forward with a complaint alleging sexual harassment during her final year with the police department. The complaint lists dozens of text messages that Kamp allegedly sent to the female trainee while she was in training and under his chain of command.

The city determined the complaint was substantiated, but because Kamp had already left the police department, there were no consequences.

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