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Maricopa County eyes National Guard to help staff jails

The sheriff’s office reportedly has over 775 vacant positions, including civilian jobs, detention officers and deputies.

Credit: AP

FILE - In this March 31, 2020, file photo, members of an Arizona National Guard unit pause while loading a helicopter with medical supplies to be taken to the remote Navajo Nation town of Kayenta in Phoenix. The coronavirus pandemic was Arizona's top news story of the year. The disease disrupted the economy, schools, government and the lives of nearly every state resident. Gov. Doug Ducey was forced to shut down schools in March and then much of the economy in an effort to slow the virus' spread. Ducey eased restrictions in mid-May and watched as the virus surged across the state, starting with massive numbers of infections on the Navajo Nation. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is looking at ways to use Arizona National Guard personnel to help operate the understaffed jail system of the state’s most populous county.

Sgt. Calbert Gillett told the Arizona Republic that the sheriff's office is evaluating its personnel needs and whether they can be met temporarily by the National Guard.

The sheriff's office on Wednesday sent a request for 135 National Guard personnel but rescinded the request Thursday, and Gillett said the request was a draft copy sent accidentally.

According to Gillett, the sheriff’s office has over 775 vacant positions, including civilian jobs, detention officers and deputies.

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