Sheriff says it's a deterrent
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has announced that members of his volunteer posse will begin patrolling near schools.
Arpaio tells KFYI News that in light of the Connecticut school massacre, armed posse members will patrol in areas near schools, mainly in areas where the Sheriff's Office has primary jurisdiction, which would be in unincorporated areas and in cities which have contracted with his agency to be the primary law enforcement agency.
Arpaio says that encompasses 50 schools.
The sheriff says the patrols, which will start when schools resume operation in January, may consist of uniformed posse members on foot near school grounds, or observing the area from marked or unmarked patrol cars. Arpaio emphasized that posse members will not patrol inside schools or on school grounds unless a threat makes their presence necessary.
