PHOENIX — During a PBS debate Thursday, Republican candidate for Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said he “refused” a judge’s order regarding discipline of deputies, and suggested he would oppose a judge again in the future if he disagrees.
“I think people in this county want a leader that is not afraid to do the right thing when the right thing needs to be done. And if that is disagreeing with a federal district court judge and suffering the consequences of that, well, so be it,” Sheridan said.
It was Sheridan’s and Arpaio’s defiance of U.S. District Judge Murray Snow that prolonged the massive class-action 2007 Melendres lawsuit, leading to additional oversight of the office that continues to this day. The price tag for those court-ordered reforms is more than $350 million.
“They lied to my face,” Snow said of Arpaio and Sheridan in 2015. Sheridan denies he lied in court. An independent investigation concluded Sheridan was not truthful and was derelict in his duties as a law enforcement official.
'That’s why we’re in this mess'
Sheridan’s opponent, Democrat Tyler Kamp, said after the debate that Sheridan’s remarks regarding the judge are what set apart the two candidates.
“He is the reason why I decided to run for sheriff to begin with,” Kamp said. “He was the one defying the court’s orders and that’s why we’re in this mess.”
Sheridan and Kamp make their case
Both candidates highlighted their experience in law enforcement as reasons why they believe they are equipped to guide MCSO through ongoing court reforms. Sheridan worked at MCSO for nearly forty years and was Joe Arpaio’s top chief for the last seven.
“I know the sheriff’s office inside and out,” Sheridan said. “I can go into MCSO on day one. I could go there after this debate and begin to make some positive changes.”
Kamp worked at the Phoenix Police Department for 22 years and retired as a Lieutenant in 2021.
“I’m the only candidate in this race with the experience of dismantling crime organizations as a crime fighter, diplomatic experience working overseas and a lifetime of experience with community and faith-based groups,” Kamp said.
Sheridan: 'I refused to do it'
After the debate, reporters asked Sheridan about his comment regarding the court orders. Sheridan said he did not remember saying onstage he defied the judge.
“I did everything I could from the second that (court) monitor showed up,” Sheridan said. But Sheridan said onstage he refused an order because he didn’t agree with it. Sheridan was later held in civil contempt.
A full transcript of Sheridan’s statement onstage during the debate is below:
“What the judge found was that, since I wasn’t aware of the preliminary injunction, he found that unbelievable. He didn’t like that. And he was angry at me about that. He also wanted me to discipline some of my deputies, about 45 of them, for policies that didn’t exist when they did it and I refused to do it. So yes, I stood my ground for my deputies. That’s the Chief Deputy’s job and I knew at the time I was going to take some hits for it. And I think people in this county want a leader that is not afraid to do the right thing when the right thing needs to be done. And if that is disagreeing with a federal district court judge and suffering the consequences of that, well, so be it.”
Judge: The only person suspended 'was granted a raise and a promotion'
In 2016 Snow concluded MCSO did not follow its own discipline matrix for handling internal affairs matters.
“Defendants initiated internal investigations designed only to placate Plaintiffs’ counsel. Defendants did not make a good faith effort to fairly and impartially investigate and discipline misconduct,” Snow wrote in a 2016 Findings of Fact. “Ultimately, few persons were investigated; even fewer were disciplined. The only person who received a suspension – for one week – was also granted a raise and a promotion.”
Asked after the debate if he will not carry out a judge’s order he does not agree with in the future, Sheridan said he would not answer questions to 12News.
Sheridan is on Arizona Brady List of problem officers
As a result of the Melendres case, Sheridan is on the Arizona Brady List of law enforcement officials with credible allegations of wrongdoing.
“If my opponent tried to get a job as a police officer anywhere in Arizona, he could not get hired,” Kamp said.
Sheridan maintains he did nothing intentionally wrong because he was ordered by Arpaio to ignore the Melendres case and allow a subordinate chief to handle it.
“It was about whether I remembered something correctly or not. And that was really the gist of this whole thing,” Sheridan said. “I was not untruthful at any time.”
Kamp’s employee history includes sexual harassment claim
Sheridan criticized Kamp’s employee history while defending himself.
“I’ll be happy to take a polygraph if Tyler would take a polygraph to all the issues he’s got facing him,” Sheridan said.
After Kamp left Phoenix Police, a rookie officer filed a sexual harassment complaint against Kamp. The city substantiated the finding, although the complainant did not sign the final investigative form.
“When I reflect on my career, I retired honorably,” Kamp said.
During his career, Kamp also received an 8-hour suspension for improperly accessing a law enforcement database, and he received a verbal reprimand for using a city vehicle on personal time.
Decision 2024
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