Current:Home > NewsSheriff Paul Penzone of Arizona’s Maricopa County says he’s stepping down a year early in January-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Sheriff Paul Penzone of Arizona’s Maricopa County says he’s stepping down a year early in January
View Date:2024-12-24 09:57:15
PHOENIX (AP) — Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone announced Monday that he is resigning in January, a full year before his term ends.
Penzone said at a news conference that he decided to step down and not seek a third term so he can explore other possibilities in public service. He didn’t elaborate.
“I think it would be appropriate to depart from the office in January and clear the way so that during the last year of my term going into the election there aren’t distractions,” Penzone said.
Penzone is credited with ending some of the polices of his predecessor Joe Arpaio, which have been widely criticized as anti-immigrant and racist. The department runs the county jail and oversees enforcement of the unincorporated areas of Arizona’s most populous county.
After roundly defeating Arpaio in the 2016 election, Penzone tore down an outdoor jail, dubbed “Tent City,” that had been widely mocked.
Penzone, a Democrat, in 2020 defeated another Republican challenger who had served in the department under Arpaio, also a Republican.
But Penzone said at the news conference that the department remains under a “dark cloud” from Arpaio’s tenure.
During his 24 years in office, Arpaio styled himself as “America’s Toughest Sheriff” and in 2010 became a lightning rod for resistance to Arizona’s so-called “show me your papers” law, which later was struck down in part by the U.S. Supreme Court.
A federal court order still requires the department to be watched by a court-appointed monitor after a 2013 racial profiling verdict over Arpaio’s immigration crackdowns.
A federal judge concluded the sheriff’s office had profiled Latinos in patrols that targeted immigrants, leading to massive court-ordered overhauls of both the agency’s traffic operations and its internal affairs department.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Moana 2 Star Dwayne Johnson Shares the Empowering Message Film Sends to Young Girls
- The hurricane destroyed their towns. These North Carolina moms are saving each other.
- Thousands of shipping containers have been lost at sea. What happens when they burst open?
- Rachel Zegler Says Snow White's Name Is Not Based on Skin Color in New Disney Movie
- Glen Powell responds to rumor that he could replace Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible'
- Jax Taylor Shares Conflicting Response on If He and Brittany Cartwright Were Ever Legally Married
- Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters to be sentenced for voting data scheme
- Things to know about the investigations into the deadly wildfire that destroyed a Maui town
- Amazon launches an online discount storefront to better compete with Shein and Temu
- 'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph
Ranking
- Texas man accused of supporting ISIS charged in federal court
- Dancing With the Stars' Rylee Arnold Sprains Her Ankle in Rehearsals With Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik
- Opinion: Mauricio Pochettino's first USMNT roster may be disappointing, but it makes sense
- Adam Brody Addresses Whether Gilmore Girls' Dave Rygalski Earned the Best Boyfriend Title
- Brittany Cartwright Defends Hooking Up With Jax Taylor's Friend Amid Their Divorce
- Where Is the Desperate Housewives Cast Now?
- Opinion: Mauricio Pochettino's first USMNT roster may be disappointing, but it makes sense
- Rare whale died of chronic entanglement in Maine fishing gear
Recommendation
-
Old Navy's Early Black Friday Deals Start at $1.97 -- Get Holiday-Ready Sweaters, Skirts, Puffers & More
-
Covid PTSD? Amid port strike some consumers are panic-buying goods like toilet paper
-
Elections have less impact on your 401(k) than you might think
-
Biltmore Estate remains closed to recover from Hurricane Helene damage
-
Tom Brady Admits He Screwed Up as a Dad to Kids With Bridget Moynahan and Gisele Bündchen
-
After Helene, a small North Carolina town starts recovery, one shovel of mud at a time
-
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters to be sentenced for voting data scheme
-
Joaquin Phoenix says 'Joker 2' movie musical drew inspiration from KISS