The Maricopa County Sheriff’ Office is seeking out ways to use the Arizona National Guard to help operate its understaffed jail system.
On Wednesday, Oct. 27, the sheriff's office sent a request through county emergency officials for 135 state National Guard personnel to fill jail staffing needs, but rescinded the request on Thursday, Oct. 28, according to county spokesman Fields Moseley.
The request said the sheriff’s office “has reached critical staffing levels across multiple departments. Multiple jails are reaching maximum capacity with manpower shortages and a deficit in overtime funding causing the Sheriff’s Office to use badged field personnel to fill vacancies and help with the backlog in numerous departments. Due to this situation, MCSO is requesting National Guard members to assist with the most critical vacant positions.”
