Fast rise in Maricopa County evictions makes job of Constable more challenging

Evictions in Maricopa County are near record highs. 

It means County Constables, the people who evict tenants, are busier than ever. 

Riding along with a Constable demonstrates that the job isn’t easy. 

What we know:

There are around 32 constables in Maricopa County. Each has a different sector but the same job. 

When the court orders someone out of their house, the Constable makes sure they go. 

It's not knock you want at the door when the Constable comes calling.

"Each story is different, just like a fairytale. Each story is different and I never know which story I’m gonna get that day," says Constable Mahogany Kennedy. 

Her day starts by donning a bulletproof vest, a taser and gun because you never know what’s on the other side of that door. 

"You saw that I walked past the window to see if I can see any furniture, and then I stood to the side of the door," said Kennedy. "I don’t know what’s coming out." 

The backstory:

Constable Kennedy visits a handful of houses a day, carefully casing each house looking for clues. 

Inside this home, she finds a teenage girl with a one-year-old baby. Kennedy spoke with her adult mother who was pleading her case by phone.

"How am I being made aware of this? When nothing has been delivered, nothing’s been delivered to my home. I’ve checked the mailboxes and I have nothing," she says. 

Even in this situation, the occupants have to go. 

Mahogany uses deescalation tactics and offers resources. She’s sympathetic, but that’s the best she can do. 

"They left their oldest (daughter) at the house with the baby thinking everything will be OK today and went to work thinking everthing will be OK," said Mahogany. "I just disrupted the world."

Big picture view:

Being the bad guy comes with the territory. Mahogany has accepted that, but she has a job to do and now it’s off to the next house.

"This is tough. I can’t say their satisfaction at all. I’m human. There’s some days that are rough. Some days they’re rougher than others," she says.

The teenager, who we decided not to identify, had to pack up and leave. 

Her parents picked her up with the baby and the locks were changed. 

Tenants get two weeks to go back and collect any belongings. 

After that, the property goes back to the landlord.

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