Maricopa County possibly using National Guard to help with jail security

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - The Maricopa County Sheriff’ office is looking at ways to use Arizona National Guard personnel to help operate the understaffed jail system.

The sheriff’s office sent a request through county emergency officials for 135 state national guard personnel to fill jail staffing needs last week but rescinded the request just a day later.

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."

The sheriff’s office has over 775 vacant positions, including civilian jobs, detention officers and deputies and is now continuing to evaluate how the National Guard could augment operations.