SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. — The Sun City West posse is back on the streets, ending Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone’s temporary suspension of the posse program.
Friday Penzone re-authorized 17 members of the Sun City West Posse to once again patrol the northwest Valley city, and 45 more posse members are currently going through the process to re-join.
"I want to make it crystal clear that the sheriff’s posse of Sun City West did not have one person who fell under the category of needing to be removed. That’s real important to me. We have a good group of people here," said Capt. Myron Finegold, commander of the Sun City West posse.
Sheriff Penzone suspended the posse program Jan. 25.
An audit revealed that of more than 400 posse members across the county, 235 were carrying weapons while performing their volunteer duties, and just four of those 235 had gone through the necessary process to do so.
Penzone invited all posse members to go through the six-point screening, which includes a background check, a polygraph test, and a urinalysis drug test among other requirements to carry a weapon while working as a posse member.
"The public can never be truly 100 percent safe if we are not having great oversight within our own organization, and the Sun City West Posse is a part of our organization. We appreciate them. We want to make sure their efforts represent the excellence that is the foundation of our organization," Penzone said.
Those not classified as qualified armed posse have less stringent requirements.
None of Sun City West’s reinstated posse members have been authorized to carry weapons while on duty, but several are also seeking to become qualified armed posse members and resume that ability.
MCSO spokesman Michael Cavaiola tells 12 News that 122 posse members are “in the process” to resume their posse roles.
MCSO has 330 interview slots remaining for anyone who would like to become part of the process, and anyone wishing to do so should contact the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in the next six days.
Qualified armed posse members join sworn deputies on a volunteer basis. They have their own uniforms, cars, and badges.
Posse members also assist MCSO by performing welfare checks, undertaking search and rescue operations, and even putting up crime scene tape at active scenes. Some posse members raise money.
Cavaiola said MCSO’s goal is to reinstate posse members all around the county and to maintain the program as it was before the suspension, just with more oversight of those joining each posse.