Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has called on the Department of Justice to end its federal oversight of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), a process that began with a 2013 lawsuit and has continued for more than a decade. In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Biggs urged the DOJ to resolve the case, arguing that ongoing federal intervention is unnecessary and costly.
The MCSO was placed under a court-ordered monitor in 2013 to implement policing reforms. Since then, three different sheriffs have made policy changes, enhanced training, and increased reporting to meet federal standards. Despite what Biggs describes as “near-total compliance,” he contends that new demands from the federal monitor have exceeded the original scope of the ruling.
Biggs stated, “For over a decade, a costly federal monitor has hamstrung the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office through administrative overreach and constant federal interference.” He added, “MCSO has worked tirelessly to comply with the court-ordered reforms, and it’s clear that the original goals of the oversight have been met. The continued monitoring, along with the growing costs associated with it, serves no legitimate purpose for the people of Maricopa County. I urge AG Bondi to bring this matter to a close and allow local law enforcement to move forward without unnecessary federal involvement.”
According to Biggs and other local officials, taxpayers have paid nearly $350 million in costs related to the oversight since 2013. This includes more than $34 million paid directly to the DOJ-appointed monitor and his firm. Officials say these expenses have contributed to challenges in recruiting and retaining deputies at MCSO.
Maricopa County Supervisor Mark Stewart commented on the situation: “It’s time we wrap up this decade-long oversight. I want to thank Judge Snow for his invaluable guidance and hopefully for ending this costly oversight. The dedicated men and women of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deserve to be recognized as the top-tier law enforcement organization they are. Taxpayers rightly expect their hard-earned dollars to go toward keeping our communities safe and investing in law enforcement.”
Supervisor Debbie Lesko also criticized continued monitoring: “Maricopa County’s been under a court monitor for more than ten years—it’s not making anyone safer, it’s just wasting money and time. The Sheriff’s Office is doing the job right, but the goal posts keep moving and the scope keeps expanding—it’s totally unfair, and it’s time to end it once and for all.”
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said: “The people of Maricopa County deserve results, not endless federal micromanagement that drains taxpayer dollars. Over $350 million has been spent on court-ordered oversight of the Sheriff’s Office, with little to show for it except bureaucracy and frustration. That money could have gone toward putting more deputies on the street and strengthening public safety in our neighborhoods. I applaud Congressman Andy Biggs for leading this fight in Washington and standing up for local control and fiscal responsibility.”
Andy Biggs currently represents Arizona’s 5th congressional district in Congress after succeeding Richard Miranda in 2017. Before serving in Congress, he was part of the Arizona Senate from 2013 until 2017. Born in Tucson in 1958, Biggs resides in Gilbert. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in 1982 before earning his JD from the University of Arizona two years later.
The full text of Congressman Biggs’s letter is available online.
Coverage by The Post Millennial can be found here.
