BRRR… Tent City inmates feel the cold

PHOENIX - Maricopa County Sheriff's officials say detention officers are suffering in the cold along with inmates at the department's Tent City complex in southwest Phoenix.

They say generally this is the best time of year to be an inmate of the outdoor facility, better than the sweltering summer months, but today inmates are complaining after temperatures registered as low as 22 degrees at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said with tent flaps down and no space heaters permitted, inmates at least got extra blankets.

Even detention officers were feeling the cold.

"Everyone worries about the inmates," Tents Captain Vincent Campanaro said. "But what about my officers who are assigned to Tent City? It's a tough job assignment."

The facility opened in 1993 with surplus military tents and currently can hold up to 2,000 inmates, according to the MCSO website.