MCSO sheriff aims to address staffing shortage by improving pay, ending court oversight

PHOENIX – Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said he wants to improve the agency’s pay structure to help with recruitment and retention amid a staffing shortage.

He also hopes to address another factor contributing to the MCSO staffing shortage: onerous court oversight related to a 2013 racial profiling case.

Sheridan told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Thursday that only about 620 of the agency’s 740 deputy positions are currently filled.

“It is kind of a pay issue with the deputies — and the detention officers, also — because we don’t have a step plan,” he said.

Sheridan said the issue isn’t starting pay; it’s the fact that deputies aren’t assured raises that reflect their service time.

“Right now, you could be a deputy sheriff for 18 years and not be at topped-out pay. … Every other agency here in Maricopa County has a step plan, and you get to top pay in six or eight years,” he said.

Sheridan said he is working closely with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and is optimistic they will approve a step plan.

Court order also contributes to MCSO staffing shortage

However, the pay scale isn’t the only issue contributing to the MCSO staffing shortage. Sheridan said federal court oversight dating back to the Joe Arpaio era also serves as a deterrent to potential recruits.

In addition to being costly, the court order from the Melendres racial profiling verdict requires deputies to do more paperwork, reducing the amount of time available for law enforcement activity.

“People know that … it puts a crimp on how they can actually police and how we do things. And it makes it difficult,” he said.

Sheridan became the fourth Maricopa County sheriff subject to the oversight when he took office in January. He believes MCSO is compliant with the practical application of the court order and is only lacking in a few administrative areas that aren’t relevant to the behavior that prompted it.

In fact, MCSO’s Traffic Study Annual Report for 2023 showed no statistically significant outcome disparities between Hispanic drivers and white drivers for the first time.

“The practical application of not being racially biased in your duties — that is long gone,” he said.

Sheridan said his agency is working with the ACLU, the Department of Justice and the court monitor to get out from under the compliance.

“The behavior that caused the Melendres lawsuit … happened in 2008. Well, it’s 2025 now. We need to get beyond that,” he said.

Related

MCSO traffic stop report: No disparities between Hispanic and white drivers for first timeMCSO reaches milestone in compliance with 2013 racial profiling verdictMaricopa County Sheriff says he is not helping President Trump with mass deportationsMaricopa County sheriff defends decision not to scan detention officers after 12 inmate overdoses2 contemporary fashion brands to make Arizona debuts at Scottsdale QuarterCien Agaves Tacos & Tequila expands with new East Valley location