The unexpected departure of Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone after seven years has left the department grappling with the void he leaves behind. Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez, MCSO spokesperson says, “it came as a shock. He was doing such a great job, implementing so many policies and changing the department from within. So, in him leaving, there’s a big vacancy.”
Despite the sudden change, the MCSO is committed to moving forward with the policies initiated by Sheriff Penzone. “The department was in shock, but we know we’re in good hands right now,” Sgt. Enriquez said.
Chief Deputy Russ Skinner, with 33 years of experience within the department, has been assigned by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to run the sheriff’s office. The BOS, which consists of five elected members, is responsible for overseeing various county functions, services, making policy decisions, and managing county resources.
Chief Deputy Skinner will serve until the BOS selects an interim sheriff who will wrap up the last year of Penzone’s term. From there, a new sheriff will be elected in November 2024.
“Sheriff Penzone implemented so many good policies that changed the department and pretty much started to gain the trust of the community that we had once lost,” Sgt. Enriquez continues, “and Chief Deputy Skinner was in charge of enforcing and implementing those policies that have brought us to where we are right now.”
The BOS is in the process of selecting an interim sheriff from a pool of eight candidates, with Chief Deputy Skinner among those. “While he’s a placeholder right now, he is running the department, he still has aspirations of filling that role and possibly running for Sheriff in November,” shared Sgt. Enriquez.
Per state statute, the BOS must appoint a Democratic appointee, being that Penzone was also a Democrat.
“Really what matters is the community,” Sgt. Enriquez said. “I want this department to be viewed as one of the best departments in the nation, and to accomplish that, we must have a good leader that involves the community.”
As the MCSO navigates this transitional period, decisions made in the coming months will shape its trajectory and impact the communities it serves in Maricopa County.
