Throughout his career in law enforcement, Sheriff Penzone has been a leader on efforts to improve policing and restore transparency, trust and accountability between law enforcement and those they serve. 

Last year, when a bill was introduced to provide more oversight in use of critical force investigations, Sheriff Penzone immediately recognized if it passed it would fall short of what was needed and stifle the needs of the community. He took the lead - and public criticism for opposing - but made a commitment to deliver a more effective framework for our community.

To deliver on his promise, Sheriff Penzone formed a multi-jurisdictional team of law enforcement leaders that collaborated to create an equitable framework to provide thorough, ethical and transparent investigations of critical use of force incidents throughout the State of Arizona. What resulted is the passage of a historic bipartisan bill that is even more expansive than the original effort. This legislation will: 

• Establish the Major Incident Division (MID), available to investigate all critical force incidents and criminal allegations including:

• Any discharge of a firearm by a peace officer due to a use of force encounter, regardless of whether the discharge results in an injury or death of an individual.

• Any incident involving a peace officer's intended use of deadly force or use of force by any other means that results in death or serious bodily injury of another person, either during an on-duty or off-duty incident.

• Any criminal allegation against a peace officer employed by the law enforcement agency at the request of a sheriff or chief of police. 

Please contribute to support Sheriff Penzone’s long-term commitment to restore trust and make positive change in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and in our law enforcement community.