Russ Skinner appointed new Maricopa County sheriff

PHOENIX - There's a new sheriff in town.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Russ Skinner as the new sheriff on Feb. 8 after Paul Penzone resigned last month. Penzone announced his decision to not seek re-election in October.

Penzone had been the sheriff of Maricopa County since 2016, when he defeated Republican incumbent Joe Arpaio. Prior to his defeat by Penzone, Arpaio was Maricopa County's sheriff for 24 years.

The board appointed Skinner after considering two other candidates; Jeffrey Kirkham, commander of the Apache Junction Police Department, and Patrick Valenzuela, police sector lieutenant for the Glendale Police Department.

Russ Skinner: Meet Maricopa County's new sheriff

Maricopa County has a new sheriff, as the county's board of supervisors appointed Russ Skinner, who served as Deputy Sheriff, to the role of interim sheriff for the rest of 2024. FOX 10's Ellen McNamara reports.

Skinner has been with MCSO since 1990. He previously served as Penzone's chief deputy and was already serving as the interim sheriff.

All board members voted in favor of Skinner, aside from Supervisor Steve Gallardo, who said he is willing to work on establishing trust with Skinner.

"Maricopa County, back in 1990, is a lot different than it is today, and we have a lot challenges we faced – the environment, the political makeup – and as stated before, I am bipartisan in the sense I am a law enforcement professional and I will do what needs to be done to uphold the law, uphold the constitution and make sure we keep Maricopa County safe and moving forward," Skinner said after being sworn in as sheriff.

Skinner will be in office until the November election.

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Russ Skinner (MCSO)

Statement from new Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner

"I'm deeply grateful to Chairman Sellers and the Board of Supervisors for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve as appointed Sheriff. It’s truly an honor to serve the community and support our dedicated agency members in this new role.

Unchanged, is my unwavering commitment to uphold the mission of safeguarding lives and property in Maricopa County, alongside MCSO’s best-in-class detention officers, sworn deputies, civilian employees and volunteers. Building on Sheriff Penzone’s foundation, MCSO will continue providing professional law enforcement services and enhance our response to diverse public safety needs. I firmly believe and aspire while united with our community and partner agencies, MCSO can navigate Maricopa County's dynamic growth, assuring a secure and thriving environment for all. Thank you for your confidence; I take this duty to heart."