Bob Burns, reporter
Former Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan has announced that he will seek the Republican nomination to run for Maricopa County Sheriff in the 2024 general election.
Incumbent Sheriff Paul Penzone (Democrat) has not made any public statements regarding his re-election plans.
Since retiring in 2016, Sheridan, a former Fountain Hills resident, has split his time between his home in Goldfield Ranch, adjacent to Fort McDowell, and his cabin in Arizona. He ran for sheriff in 2020, but lost to Penzone, who was seeking a second term. Sheridan said he has once again been hearing from his former colleagues at MCSO asking him to run again.
“I'm running because people are reaching out to me to run. I have the support of the majority of MCSO employees,” Sheridan said.
Sheridan arrived in Arizona in 1976 at the age of 18 after his parents retired in Fountain Hills. Mr. Sheridan, who grew up as the son of a New York City police officer, immediately became interested in what was available on the ground in his new community, he said.
He signed on as a reservist with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in 1977 and served for 40 years before retiring in 2016. Sheridan has kept his family's roots in Fountain Hills since his arrival.
Sheridan said that from his perspective, Penzone is not providing proper leadership to MCSO. He said he would implement a top-down leadership program for all supervisors.
“This is important to all law enforcement agencies across the country,” Sheridan said. “The right leadership helps you attract top talent who can achieve what they want in their careers.”
Although it is less in the news than it was four years ago, there is still a need for adequate support for law enforcement officers and the challenges they face.
“The work they do every day is difficult and exhausting,” Sheridan said. “They constantly need refreshment.”
To that end, he suggests using Blue Courage, an education program for legislators. He said the program inspires police officers to “exemplify the noblest character and unquestionable dedication.”
An important initiative for Fountain Hills is the MCSO Law Enforcement Contract, which serves communities that consider police personnel and operations too expensive.
“I feel pretty strongly about the contract,” Sheridan said. “In the ’90s, I traveled to Los Angeles and learned how the county provides contract law enforcement to the community. One of the key issues is local control, and there are several There is a problem.
“Having your own police department is much more expensive than people think.”
He also noted that towns with smaller police departments may need to pay more to retain patrol officers if upward mobility is restricted.
“I have spent my career keeping the people of Fountain Hills safe,” he said. “Contract City is a top priority for me. The current sheriff doesn't understand contract enforcement.”
