“I attended a community meeting in Phoenix last evening regarding the Melendres orders and court-appointed monitor. I listened intently to residents who had concerns about racial profiling and public safety. I understand that rebuilding trust takes time, but I can assure you that I have seen first-hand the radical, positive change the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has made within the department since the class action lawsuit was filed almost 20 years ago in 2007.
MCSO is in full and effective compliance with more than 225 separate provisions of the court orders, including the constitutional policing requirements at the core of the case. Per the Melendres orders, the Sheriff’s Office has implemented several policies that prohibit racial or other bias-based profiling. MCSO employees have been trained to align with those policies. In an effort to regain public trust, MCSO has also put all policies and practices on MCSO.org for the public to view.
The time has come to put an end to this costly and unnecessary judicial oversight. This nearly-two-decades-long federal court case and the resultant compliance orders will cost County taxpayers an estimated $353 million by the end of 2026. Nearly $30 million has gone to a court-appointed monitor, with millions more still to come. This may be good for the monitor’s paycheck, but it is not necessarily good for Maricopa County residents who want safe, crime-free neighborhoods.”
