Maricopa County Sheriff candidates face off in debate

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Maricopa County will have a new sheriff this November since incumbent Russ Skinner lost the primary. On Thursday, the two men fighting to replace him went head-to-head in a debate.

Both candidates, Democrat Tyler Kamp and Republican Jerry Sheridan, have extensive law enforcement backgrounds and both have controversies from the past which were addressed.

Sheridan worked for MCSO for nearly 40 years and was second in command under Sheriff Joe Arpaio when a federal judge found the sheriff’s office guilty of racial profiling in 2013 for targeting Hispanics in traffic stops.

As a result, the judge installed a federal monitor to oversee reforms. To date, it’s cost taxpayers nearly $400 million and counting.

Arpaio fought those reforms, with Sheridan at his side for many of those announcements.

While Sheridan has told Arizona’s Family he is advocating for bringing back some form of Arpaio’s controversial Tent City, he had said he wouldn’t take the department back.

“There were attorneys that were representing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Every sheriff deputy involved in the human smuggling unit, they all testified before the court, before Judge Snow that Jerry Sheridan had nothing to do with this. I never ordered anyone to do anything related to the illegal immigration system, period. End of story,” said Sheridan.

Kamp, who switched parties to run as a Democrat, is former Phoenix Police Lieutenant. He served more than 20 years and retired in 2021.

After that, a female officer who reported him filed a complaint. A city investigation found Kamp guilty of sexual harassment during his final year on the force citing Kamp sent dozens of inappropriate text message while that officer was in training and under his chain of command.

Arizona’s Family asked him about that after the debate.

“I wouldn’t describe myself as having baggage. I had a minor infraction 12 years ago that was quickly fixed, and I have learned from that. You have to look at the body of work. There was an allegation 6 months after my retirement. That investigation was never completed, and I am confident that if it was completed--I would be found not responsible,” said Kamp.

According to city records, the investigation was completed. That officer’s complaint was substantiated, but since Kamp had already left the force, there were no repercussions.

Kamp beat incumbent Sheriff Russ Skinner in the Democratic primary.

To watch the full debate, click here.

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