The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was established
in 1871 when a fifth county was carved out of the
territory's original four.

Law and order in the County's 9226 square miles have
since been the primary responsibility of the 36 sheriff's
elected to office since 1871. Some held office for as
long as 22 years - others for as briefly as two weeks.

Contrary to western myth popularized by Hollywood
films, no elected Maricopa County Sheriff has
participated in a shoot-out or been killed in the
line of duty. Many sheriff's have been deemed
"colorful characters in colorful times" but none have
gone down in history as legends or heroes or scoundrels
accused of scandalous deeds.

In territorial days, justice was swift and certain.
Though for many years the sheriff had only temporary
deputies and jailers, lawbreakers were eagerly pursued
by the sheriff's posse to administer justice. In the
first decade of the county's existence, there were six
lynchings and one legal execution. Handcuffs and leg
irons back then were attached to river rocks or a nearby
tree - either served well as an adequate jail site.

In 1913, the sheriff's office entered into the automotive
age with the purchase of a six passenger Overland Stutz.

Cars were bound to be the way of the future but many
in 1913 and for some years later preferred their
horses. Most deputies were excellent horsemen whose
knowledge of the desert terrain made man and beast a
formidable team.