Supervisor Stewart Remarks on Recent Melendres Case Community Meeting
Wednesday night I attended the community meeting for the Melendres case with Judge Murray Snow, representatives from the ACLU who represent the plaintiff class, community members, and Sheriff Sheridan.
I went with one goal in mind: to understand how we can protect both the taxpayer and every person’s constitutional rights. That oath guides every decision I make.
The Melendres case began more than 14 years ago, focused on racial profiling concerns within the Sheriff’s Office. In 2011, Judge Snow ruled that reforms were necessary to protect constitutional rights.
Both the ACLU and Judge Snow shared that the Sheriff’s Office has now reached Phase One compliance with the racial profiling order. That is real progress and a sign of meaningful cultural change inside the department.
Now the focus turns to internal investigations. Clearing the backlog of complaints is about more than compliance; it is about fairness, due process, and transparency for everyone in Maricopa County.
The Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Sheridan has made tremendous strides in accountability and professional standards. Even community members who were once critical acknowledged the progress as best in class.
As a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, I am optimistic and fully committed to continuing this partnership with Judge Snow, the Sheriff’s Office, the ACLU, and our community.
We will see this through to full compliance, and when that happens, I will advocate for cost relief so those funds can be reinvested into public safety, training, and community trust programs.
Maricopa County has come a long way since 2011. The leadership is strong, the progress is real, and the path forward is clear.
Together we can make the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office a national model for accountability, professionalism, and constitutional policing.
The Board of Supervisors will continue to work with all partners to ensure this progress never stops and that every resident feels safe, heard, and protected under the law.
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