Maricopa County Sheriff candidates face off in debate | 2024 election

PHOENIX - A debate between the candidates for Maricopa County Sheriff took place on Wednesday night, with Democrat Tyler Kamp going head-to-head with Republican Jerry Sheridan.

Kamp defeated incumbent Sheriff Russ Skinner in the primary election. Skinner was appointed sheriff following the resignation of Paul Penzone.

Sheridan was declared the winner in the GOP race, defeating former Arizona Department of Public Safety Colonel Frank Milstead, and Frank "Mike" Crawford.

Debate gets heated

Both candidates talked about election security and jail deaths that have climbed in the past few years.

They also mentioned a 2016 court order when the office was led by former Sheriff Joe Arpaio that still hangs over the department.

"We simply cannot return to the days of my opponent and Joe Arpaio. The unconstitutional policies and practices, the daily headlines, the government overreach. The lawsuit that has cost the taxpayers $350 million. That dollar amount will continue to grow until we can fully comply and graduate from those court orders," Kamp said.

Both men didn't shy away from getting personal.

"Voters have a clear choice. Elect someone like me, who can take over from the second I get there, or they can elect someone with no sheriff's experience, and he's a documented sexual harasser," Sheridan said.

Democrat Tyler Kamp denied an allegation he sexually harassed a fellow officer when he was a Phoenix Police Lieutenant. Meanwhile, Sheridan defended his record despite claims he's discriminated against Latinos in the past.