The Sun City Posse is leaving the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse Program. Its last day in the program is Tuesday.
Tim Lambin, a lieutenant with the Sun City Posse, said they’re leaving on good terms and will now be an independent public service organization.
“We have no problems with the Sheriff’s Office,” Lambin said. “We’re very pleased with our relationship through the years.”
The Posse will continue to share information with the Sheriff’s Office.
One reason for leaving the Posse Program, though, was the training requirements. After a racial profiling case against the Sheriff’s Office, known as the Melendres case, a federal judge ordered more training.
“We’re not law enforcement,” Lambin said. “We don’t do any law enforcement activities at all. So a lot of that training doesn’t really apply to us directly.”
A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said this is the only posse to leave the program since the Melendres decision.
In a statement, the office thanked the Sun City Posse for “keeping the community safe.”
Sheriff Paul Penzone recently assigned a committee to review the posse program and make recommendations to improve it.
“The goal is to provide more consistent oversight, support and communication with the various Posses that provide exceptional services on behalf of our community,” the statement said.
