Friday marks MCSO Sheriff Paul Penzone's last day in office

PHOENIX — Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone is stepping down from his position with the department on Friday, Jan. 12.

In October 2023, Sheriff Penzone announced that he would be leaving office in January and not seeking a third term as sheriff.

The Board of Supervisors said he submitted his resignation and it was officially accepted on Wednesday.

MCSO posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday with a final message from Sheriff Penzone:

He stressed a message of gratitude for the men and women within the department and said he is thankful for the opportunity to have served in his role.

Penzone was first elected in 2016 and won re-election in 2020.

After Penzone took office in 2017, one of the first big changes he made was closing "Tent City" which was created by the previous sheriff, Joe Arpaio, in 1993.

In November 2022, a federal judge found Penzone to be in civil contempt of court in the same racial profiling case in which his predecessor, Arpaio, was found to be in contempt six years earlier.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is now looking to appoint the next Maricopa County sheriff and applications are currently open. The person who is chosen to fill the vacancy will do so until the November election when a new sheriff is elected.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Russ Skinner will fill the role until the board makes an appointment, officials said Wednesday.