An independent investigation has concluded that the top chief of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio engaged in misconduct and violated court orders during the Melendres civil rights case.
Jerry Sheridan appealed the civil contempt findings by a federal judge in 2016.
An independent investigator appointed by the court recently concluded Sheridan violated standards related to truthfulness, dereliction of duty and that he "failed to meet standards." All three aspects of the investigation resulted in findings against Sheridan.
Sheridan will now go before the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board to determine if he should be stripped of his peace officer's certification.
Sheridan quit the sheriff's office in 2016 after Arpaio lost the last election.
During the Melendres federal hearings, the veteran chief was repeatedly shown in court to be at the center of key decisions that eventually resulted in the county being liable for tens of millions of dollars in subsequent legal fees and remedies.
A video of Sheridan in 2013 showed him telling a group of deputies and volunteer posse members that the judge’s injunction in the lawsuit was “a bunch of crap”, “ludicrous” and “absurd.” Appellate courts ruled that the injunction was constitutional and Sheridan was compelled to apologize in court for what he described as a lapse in judgment.
Sheridan was reprimanded in court by Judge Murray Snow for alleged false statements, reluctance to obey court orders, and for undermining the internal affairs process for which his duties were eventually stripped.
Snow appointed independent investigator Daniel Giaquinto to review the civil contempt allegations against Sheridan. MCSO has not yet released documents related to the investigation, citing an ongoing redaction process.
At one point during the trial, Snow wrote, "Sheriff Arpaio and Chief Deputy Sheridan have a history of obfuscation and subversion of this Court's orders that is as old as this case..."