PHOENIX — A candidate running to be the next Maricopa County Sheriff is under criticism for his affiliation with a movement that the Anti-Defamation League calls an “anti-government extremist group.”
A recent documentary on YouTube by “Dateline - Special Broadcasting Service Australia” features Republican Jerry Sheridan railing against government tyranny and attending a seminar on the controversial Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officer Movement.
That group’s founder, Richard Mack, opines about discrimination against white Americans and Catholics. He admonishes Sheridan and other attendees to prepare to “throw off” the federal government if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected in November.
“Not vote out. Throw off,” Mack said.
Mack declares in the seminar that America has “never been a democracy” and said, “The greatest election fraud is happening in the country right now.”
The documentary gives an up-close look at a movement Sheridan has aligned himself with as he seeks to lead the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
“It is troubling,” said Sheridan’s opponent in the November election, Democrat Tyler Kamp. “It shows someone who thinks he can take the law into his own hands. That’s why we saw what happened ten years ago when the sheriff didn’t comply with a court order and it has cost us $350 million.”
Group calls Harris 'a destructive force'
Sheridan did not respond to an interview request about his participation in the documentary and about his reaction to the comments by Mack. Instead, Sheridan issued a written statement to 12News, saying he swore an oath to uphold the constitution and that as sheriff, he would “protect the civil liberties of all persons as outlined in our Bill of Rights.”
The video also shows Sheridan and his wife looking on as Mack describes America in dark tones, saying if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected she will take guns away from Americans.
“I never have advocated violence but tell me what America looks like if Kamala Harris is sworn in as president. Our constitution cannot afford one more destructive force,” Mack said.
Kamp said the video demonstrates why Sheridan doesn’t understand the boundaries of the office.
“He says he won’t follow a federal law he disagrees with. We have legislators that make laws, courts to interpret those laws and law enforcement to enforce those laws,” Kamp said.
In the documentary, Sheridan said examples of government tyranny are tax laws, EPA regulations and pandemic-era restrictions.
Military study ties constitutional sheriffs idealogy to violent groups
The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association encourages sheriffs to not enforce gun control laws they disagree with. They promote election conspiracies and they frequently portray Democrats as a sinister force in America. The group’s legal philosophy is derived from a 1997 Supreme Court ruling.
The Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point military academy ties the constitutional sheriffs ideology to “overtly violent and extreme entities” including the Oath Keepers. Mack, a former rural sheriff in Arizona, also founded the Oath Keepers. Several of the group’s members were prosecuted for their roles at the January 6th insurrection and evidence in court showed they brought stockpiles of weapons to Washington D.C. to prepare for a battle.
“What’s that old adage your mom would always tell you? You are who you keep company with,” said Chris Nanos, Sheriff of Pima County and a strong critic of the constitutional sheriffs. “Think about it. You’re a leader of a law enforcement agency. When you affiliate yourself with these kinds of people, that’s bad. We’re supposed to be neutral, right? If you’re a citizen aren’t you expecting neutrality when you call 911?”
Sheridan says he will investigate election corruption
Sheridan also told the film crew in the documentary that he believes his office will have a role in finding and investigating corruption in elections. As a Trump supporter, Sheridan did not accept the results of his 2020 election loss to Paul Penzone.
Sheridan is certainly not alone as a supporter of Mack and his organization. The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting found more than half of sheriffs in Arizona had some degree of affiliation with the constitutional sheriffs in 2022.
“Some of them believe that is how they have to keep their job,” Nanos said. “It’s like they’re running for office every time they come to work.”
In debates and on television interviews, Sheridan has not been specific about the constitutional sheriffs' ideology. During a Trump rally, Sheridan spoke about animal abuse, combatting homelessness, increasing jail inmate safety, and protecting civil liberties. He told 12News on primary election night that being a “constitutional sheriff” means protecting all citizens’ rights.
However, during a September debate with Kamp, Sheridan acknowledged he defied a federal judge while serving as Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s top chief during the Melendres civil rights case. Sheridan then said he would be willing to do it again.
“If that is disagreeing with a federal district judge and suffering the consequences of that, well, so be it,” Sheridan said.