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Ballotpedia, Jerry Sheridan

Jerry was born and raised in Queens, New York. He holds a master's degree in organizational management from Wayland Baptist University and graduated from the FBI National Academy. He is married to his wife, Stacie, with whom he has 2 daughters, 2 grandchildren, and a son-in-law.

Jerry currently works as a chief deputy for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO). He previously worked as a detention officer, deputy sheriff, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain for the MSCO. 

Jerry Sheridan ran for Maricopa County Sheriff in 2020, but he did not win. 

Candidate website

Believes protecting children from sexual predators, human trafficking, school violence, and child abuse should be "Priority One."

Holds protecting children from sexual predators, human trafficking, school violence, and child abuse as his top priority, saying they are "society's more vulnerable."

Plans to establish regional centers to support victims of sexual abuse by pooling county resources.

Wants to pool resources to establish regional centers to assist sexual abuse victims. 

Believes the MCSO is "dangerously understaffed" and plans to boost morale and secure additional funding for personnel.

Wants to rebuild the MSCO Department, saying the county sheriff's office is "dangerously understaffed", with "morale...at an all-time low."

Wants to reinstate the Sheriff’s Posse, saying they are "just as much a part of the Sheriff’s Office as the Sheriff himself...[and] saved taxpayers millions of dollars every year by donating countless hours..."

- Holds protecting children from sexual predators, human trafficking, school violence, and child abuse as his top priority, saying they are "society's more vulnerable."
- Wants to pool resources to establish regional centers to assist sexual abuse victims. 
- Wants to rebuild the MSCO Department, saying the county sheriff's office is "dangerously understaffed", with "morale...at an all-time low."
- Wants to reinstate the Sheriff’s Posse, saying they are "just as much a part of the Sheriff’s Office as the Sheriff himself...[and] saved taxpayers millions of dollars every year by donating countless hours..."

Public Safety

Supports reintroducing training for deputies to identify and divert mentally ill individuals to mental health facilities, ensuring proper care in jail.

Plans to reintroduce training for field deputies and detention intake staff to identify and relocate individuals suffering from mental illness to mental health facilities if possible, and provide adequate care at jails if not. 

Believes Tent City should be part of inmate housing for its cost-effectiveness and deterrent effect. Plans to reinstate "Tent City" as a high priority.

Wants to reinstate Tent City, saying it "needs to be part of the overall inmate housing solution...it was an effective deterrent for many first-time offenders."

Believes jail conditions should be "humane, clean, and safe" but opposes inmates living better than those outside.

Believes jail conditions should be "humane, clean, and safe", but asserts inmates "should not live a better life than those do on the outside."

- Plans to reintroduce training for field deputies and detention intake staff to identify and relocate individuals suffering from mental illness to mental health facilities if possible, and provide adequate care at jails if not. 
- Wants to reinstate Tent City, saying it "needs to be part of the overall inmate housing solution...it was an effective deterrent for many first-time offenders."
- Believes jail conditions should be "humane, clean, and safe", but asserts inmates "should not live a better life than those do on the outside."

Jail Management

Supports making animal cruelty crimes a priority with a dedicated team of trained detectives to arrest and prosecute offenders.

Wants to address animal cruelty crimes and install a team of trained detectives to help catch offenders. 

Plans to reinstate the drug interdiction team to combat unchecked drug influx in southern Maricopa County. Said, "Reinstating this drug smuggling unit will be one of my top priorities."

Plans to reinstate the drug interdiction team in southern Maricopa County, saying since it was disbanded in 2017 "the influx of dangerous drugs like heroin and fentanyl has...gone unchecked in the Vekol Valley..."

- Wants to address animal cruelty crimes and install a team of trained detectives to help catch offenders. 
- Plans to reinstate the drug interdiction team in southern Maricopa County, saying since it was disbanded in 2017 "the influx of dangerous drugs like heroin and fentanyl has...gone unchecked in the Vekol Valley..."

Criminal Justice

Endorsed by the Arizona (AZ) Police Association (APA),  former Graham County Sheriff Richard Mack, former state legislator and AZ  Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson, former Fountain Hills Mayor Linda Kavanaugh, and former Goodyear Councilwoman, Vicki Gills.

Endorsed by former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, former AZ Attorney General Bob Corbin, congresswomen Debbie Lesko, state representatives Joseph Chaplik, Barbara Parker, and Jacqueline Parker, and state senator John Kavanagh.

- Endorsed by the Arizona (AZ) Police Association (APA),  former Graham County Sheriff Richard Mack, former state legislator and AZ  Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson, former Fountain Hills Mayor Linda Kavanaugh, and former Goodyear Councilwoman, Vicki Gills.
- Endorsed by former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, former AZ Attorney General Bob Corbin, congresswomen Debbie Lesko, state representatives Joseph Chaplik, Barbara Parker, and Jacqueline Parker, and state senator John Kavanagh.

Endorsements

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Jerry Sheridan

Jerry Sheridan was born and raised in Queens, N.Y., where he attended Catholic School through 12th grade, providing him with a grounding in faith. After his father retired in 1976, the family moved to Fountain Hills, AZ. He is married to Stacie, with whom he has two daughters, two grandchildren, and a great son-in-law.

Jerry Sheridan has a long-standing career in law enforcement, having served 38 years at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) in Arizona, including roles as a detention officer, deputy sheriff, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and Chief Deputy. He was appointed by three Arizona governors to serve on the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board for twelve years. Additionally, Sheridan was instrumental in settling the Hart v Hill federal litigation involving inmate rights during his tenure as Chief of Custody.

Jerry Sheridan has not held elected office but has extensive law enforcement experience, including serving as Chief Deputy of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. He was appointed to the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board by three Arizona governors, serving for twelve years. Sheridan is running for Sheriff of Maricopa County in 2024.

Believes the Sheriff's Posse is essential to public safety and plans to "reinstate the Posse to its full strength."

Believes in creating a law enforcement organization that "provides first-class law enforcement protection" and emphasizes the need to "enforce the Rule of Law."

Believes in proactive policing, ensuring deputies arrest criminals while assisting citizens with everyday needs. Supports creating a positive work environment for law enforcement officers.

Believes Maricopa County deserves a sheriff who is "accessible, accountable, and prioritizes everyone’s needs."

The candidate's website says, "Vekol Valley: Arizona’s Hidden Highway for Drug Smugglers"

Believes Contract Towns with MCSO law enforcement agreements will receive deserved services under his leadership.

As Chief Deputy, successfully settled a 30-year court consent decree on inmate rights, originally known as Hart v Hill. Believes in improving jail management, conditions, and oversight.

Believes effective jail management requires comprehensive planning and oversight. As Chief of Custody, managed the largest construction project in county history, including two mega jails and support facilities.

As Chief Deputy, worked to quickly settle a civil lawsuit by the Department of Justice over enforcement and custody issues. Supports improving jail management, conditions, and oversight.

The candidate's website says, "Chief of Custody managing the entire MCSO jail system (12 years)"

The candidate's website says, "Obtained a Certiﬁed Jail Manager designation from the National Sheriﬀ’s Association"

Believes in strict jail management, improved jail conditions, and robust jail oversight. As Chief Deputy, worked tirelessly to ensure MCSO complied with the court order in Melendrez v. Arpaio.

- The county sheriff is the primary law enforcement officer in the county and has the power to enforce the law in all unincorporated areas of the county. 
- The sheriff's duties include overseeing the county jail and the care of prisoners, serving warrants and court orders, collecting delinquent taxes, and conducting search and rescue operations.
- The sheriff is elected in a countywide partisan election for a four-year term.

The chief law enforcement officer in the county.

Maricopa

Arizona

Sheriff

As Chief Deputy,  worked to quickly settle a civil lawsuit by the Department of Justice over enforcement and custody issues. Supports improving jail management, conditions, and oversight.