Mike is from New Mexico but currently resides in Glendale, Arizona his wife Jamie, and together they have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. 

Mike is a retired police officer who served with the Glendale Police Department and is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he was a Crew Chief on KC-135s and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He also served as a Sheriff's Deputy in San Juan County, New Mexico, after graduating from the New Mexico State Police Academy. He has also served as a firefighter.

Ballot Pedia

Frank "Mike Crawford previously ran for Maricopa County Sheriff in 2020 but did not win.

Candidate website

Believes in increasing the presence of Sheriff Deputies on the streets and reducing the number of bureaucrats in buildings.

Supports recruiting "20% more Sheriff Deputies" to enhance public safety. Believes in strengthening law enforcement to address crime and drugs.

Believes in enhancing public safety by reinstating the MCSO Volunteer Posse. Supports community involvement in law enforcement efforts.

Believes in enhancing public safety by reinstating the Sheriff's Office Volunteer Posse. Supports community involvement in law enforcement efforts.

Believes taxpayers are unfairly burdened by legal costs, citing the Melendres case as an example of $300 million spent, with $26 million to $42 million annually going to the ACLU.

Believes taxpayers are unfairly burdened by legal costs, citing the Melendres case as an example of $300 million spent, with $26 million to $42 million annually going to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Supports restoring the Officer's Bill of Rights and complying with court orders.

Believes in enhancing community engagement to build trust and facilitate constructive feedback between law enforcement and the community.

- Believes in increasing the presence of Sheriff Deputies on the streets and reducing the number of bureaucrats in buildings.
- Supports recruiting "20% more Sheriff Deputies" to enhance public safety. Believes in strengthening law enforcement to address crime and drugs.
- Believes in enhancing public safety by reinstating the Sheriff's Office Volunteer Posse. Supports community involvement in law enforcement efforts.
- Believes taxpayers are unfairly burdened by legal costs, citing the Melendres case as an example of $300 million spent, with $26 million to $42 million annually going to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Public Safety

Facebook

Plans to restore the Officer's Bill of Rights by reducing the backlog of investigations against Deputies and Detention Officers.

Opposes funding the ACLU and the independent monitor as Sheriff.

Opposes funding the American Civil Liberties Union and the independent monitor as Sheriff.

Believes jail management should be cost-effective and transparent. Criticizes the $210,000 billed to Maricopa County taxpayers for 700 hours of work in August 2023 and the annual $2.7 million expense for the monitor and related costs.

Believes in maintaining transparency and accountability in jail management. Supports improving jail conditions and oversight.

Supports hiring additional investigators, deputies, and detention officers to enhance public safety.

Believes MCSO should effectively use funds for retaining and hiring Deputies, Detention Officers, Dispatchers, and other employees to ensure Maricopa County's safety.

Said, "On Day-1 as your Sheriff, we’re going to audit that $750 million budget and put every expenditure online for you and the world to see."

Believes in providing law enforcement employees with mental health resources.

- Plans to restore the Officer's Bill of Rights by reducing the backlog of investigations against Deputies and Detention Officers.
- Opposes funding the American Civil Liberties Union and the independent monitor as Sheriff.
- Believes jail management should be cost-effective and transparent. Criticizes the $210,000 billed to Maricopa County taxpayers for 700 hours of work in August 2023 and the annual $2.7 million expense for the monitor and related costs.
- Believes in maintaining transparency and accountability in jail management. Supports improving jail conditions and oversight.
- Supports hiring additional investigators, deputies, and detention officers to enhance public safety.
- Said, "On Day-1 as your Sheriff, we’re going to audit that $750 million budget and put every expenditure online for you and the world to see."
- Believes in providing law enforcement employees with mental health resources.

Jail Management

Believes in being "tougher than lightning" to ensure public safety. Supports dedicated service to protect families from crime and drugs.

Believes in being "tougher than lightning" to ensure public safety. 

- Believes in being "tougher than lightning" to ensure public safety. 

Criminal Justice

As of June 20, 2024, Frank "Mike" Crawford’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Endorsements

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Frank "Mike" Crawford

Frank Milstead was born and raised in Phoenix and currently resides there with his two children. He has received multiple awards, including the Medal of Valor and Medal of Life Saving from the Phoenix Police Department. He has also been recognized with the Torch of Liberty award from the Anti-Defamation League and the Medal of Heroism from the Rotary 100 Club.

Frank has a 35-year career in law enforcement. He is the former Colonel of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Chief Executive Officer of BIGLeadership.

Frank Milstead's campaign for Sheriff in Maricopa County is his first run for public office.

Ktar News

Believes in prioritizing community safety by reducing violence and harm. Plans to combat the fentanyl and methamphetamine drug epidemic and address gang-related crimes.

Plans to combat the fentanyl and methamphetamine drug epidemic and address gang-related crimes.

Supports improving school security through resource officer programs and training school personnel on threat response, and combating organized retail theft by partnering with local businesses and law enforcement.

Believes addressing community safety challenges is crucial, citing issues like migrant crime, fentanyl, and human trafficking. As a law enforcement leader, founded the Arizona Border Strikeforce to combat these threats.

Believes in updating policies for best practices, establishing a citizen review board, and ensuring ongoing policy training.

Supports expanding resource officer programs, enhancing threat response training, and developing tailored school safety plans.

Supports fostering accountability and community engagement through leadership training, policy review task forces, and transparent complaint processes.

Believes in building trust, ensuring accountability, and enhancing safety in Maricopa County. Plans to create a more efficient and responsive Sheriff's office to meet community needs.

Believes in strengthening border security through partnerships and joint task forces to tackle cross-border issues. Supports comprehensive public safety measures, including enhancing police cooperation and addressing criminal justice, drugs, crime, and gun-related concerns.

Plans to address the safety of voting sites by enhancing security measures and increasing voter education.

- Supports improving school security through resource officer programs and training school personnel on threat response, and combating organized retail theft by partnering with local businesses and law enforcement.
- Believes addressing community safety challenges is crucial, citing issues like migrant crime, fentanyl, and human trafficking. As a law enforcement leader, founded the Arizona Border Strikeforce to combat these threats.
- Supports fostering accountability and community engagement through leadership training, policy review task forces, and transparent complaint processes.
- Plans to address the safety of voting sites by enhancing security measures and increasing voter education.
- Wants to address youth crime.

Believes a comprehensive curriculum should prioritize de-escalation, crisis intervention, and cultural awareness, and include partnerships with educational institutions for internships and career paths in law enforcement.

Wants to address wasted resources and reduced effectiveness in addressing problems by increasing support and funding for police forces.

Wants to diversify recruitment for the police force.

Said, “I have never run a jail, and I think the jail is kind of an interesting piece of the equation because if you think about the jail as its own entity, it is actually an incredible piece of information for the entire country."

- Believes a comprehensive curriculum should prioritize de-escalation, crisis intervention, and cultural awareness, and include partnerships with educational institutions for internships and career paths in law enforcement.
- Wants to address wasted resources and reduced effectiveness in addressing problems by increasing support and funding for police forces.
- Wants to diversify recruitment for the police force.
- Said, “I have never run a jail, and I think the jail is kind of an interesting piece of the equation because if you think about the jail as its own entity, it is actually an incredible piece of information for the entire country."

Supports prioritizing the safety and mental health of officers by implementing wellness programs and family assistance initiatives to build a resilient law enforcement community.

Believes he can bridge the gap between the Phoenix Police Department and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

- Supports prioritizing the safety and mental health of officers by implementing wellness programs and family assistance initiatives to build a resilient law enforcement community.
- Believes he can bridge the gap between the Phoenix Police Department and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

Endorsed by the Arizona State Troopers Association and the Mesa Police Association.

Endorsed by public safety individuals such as Barry Wong, Barry Goldwater Jr., and former U.S. Marshal David Gonzales.

Endorsed by politicians such as the former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Councilman Sal DiCiccio.

- Endorsed by the Arizona State Troopers Association and the Mesa Police Association.
- Endorsed by public safety individuals such as Barry Wong, Barry Goldwater Jr., and former U.S. Marshal David Gonzales.
- Endorsed by politicians such as the former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Councilman Sal DiCiccio.

Frank Milstead 

Jerry was born and raised in Queens, New York. He holds a master's degree in organizational management from Wayland Baptist University and graduated from the FBI National Academy. He is married to his wife, Stacie, with whom he has 2 daughters, 2 grandchildren, and a son-in-law.

Jerry currently works as a chief deputy for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO). He previously worked as a detention officer, deputy sheriff, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain for the MSCO. 

Ballotpedia, Jerry Sheridan

Jerry Sheridan ran for Maricopa County Sheriff in 2020, but he did not win. 

Believes protecting children from sexual predators, human trafficking, school violence, and child abuse should be "Priority One."

Holds protecting children from sexual predators, human trafficking, school violence, and child abuse as his top priority, saying they are "society's more vulnerable."

Plans to establish regional centers to support victims of sexual abuse by pooling county resources.

Wants to pool resources to establish regional centers to assist sexual abuse victims. 

Believes the MCSO is "dangerously understaffed" and plans to boost morale and secure additional funding for personnel.

Wants to rebuild the MSCO Department, saying the county sheriff's office is "dangerously understaffed", with "morale...at an all-time low."

Wants to reinstate the Sheriff’s Posse, saying they are "just as much a part of the Sheriff’s Office as the Sheriff himself...[and] saved taxpayers millions of dollars every year by donating countless hours..."

- Holds protecting children from sexual predators, human trafficking, school violence, and child abuse as his top priority, saying they are "society's more vulnerable."
- Wants to pool resources to establish regional centers to assist sexual abuse victims. 
- Wants to rebuild the MSCO Department, saying the county sheriff's office is "dangerously understaffed", with "morale...at an all-time low."
- Wants to reinstate the Sheriff’s Posse, saying they are "just as much a part of the Sheriff’s Office as the Sheriff himself...[and] saved taxpayers millions of dollars every year by donating countless hours..."

Supports reintroducing training for deputies to identify and divert mentally ill individuals to mental health facilities, ensuring proper care in jail.

Plans to reintroduce training for field deputies and detention intake staff to identify and relocate individuals suffering from mental illness to mental health facilities if possible, and provide adequate care at jails if not. 

Believes Tent City should be part of inmate housing for its cost-effectiveness and deterrent effect. Plans to reinstate "Tent City" as a high priority.

Wants to reinstate Tent City, saying it "needs to be part of the overall inmate housing solution...it was an effective deterrent for many first-time offenders."

Believes jail conditions should be "humane, clean, and safe" but opposes inmates living better than those outside.

Believes jail conditions should be "humane, clean, and safe", but asserts inmates "should not live a better life than those do on the outside."

- Plans to reintroduce training for field deputies and detention intake staff to identify and relocate individuals suffering from mental illness to mental health facilities if possible, and provide adequate care at jails if not. 
- Wants to reinstate Tent City, saying it "needs to be part of the overall inmate housing solution...it was an effective deterrent for many first-time offenders."
- Believes jail conditions should be "humane, clean, and safe", but asserts inmates "should not live a better life than those do on the outside."

Supports making animal cruelty crimes a priority with a dedicated team of trained detectives to arrest and prosecute offenders.

Wants to address animal cruelty crimes and install a team of trained detectives to help catch offenders. 

Plans to reinstate the drug interdiction team to combat unchecked drug influx in southern Maricopa County. Said, "Reinstating this drug smuggling unit will be one of my top priorities."

Plans to reinstate the drug interdiction team in southern Maricopa County, saying since it was disbanded in 2017 "the influx of dangerous drugs like heroin and fentanyl has...gone unchecked in the Vekol Valley..."

- Wants to address animal cruelty crimes and install a team of trained detectives to help catch offenders. 
- Plans to reinstate the drug interdiction team in southern Maricopa County, saying since it was disbanded in 2017 "the influx of dangerous drugs like heroin and fentanyl has...gone unchecked in the Vekol Valley..."

Endorsed by the Arizona (AZ) Police Association (APA),  former Graham County Sheriff Richard Mack, former state legislator and AZ  Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson, former Fountain Hills Mayor Linda Kavanaugh, and former Goodyear Councilwoman, Vicki Gills.

Endorsed by former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, former AZ Attorney General Bob Corbin, congresswomen Debbie Lesko, state representatives Joseph Chaplik, Barbara Parker, and Jacqueline Parker, and state senator John Kavanagh.

- Endorsed by the Arizona (AZ) Police Association (APA),  former Graham County Sheriff Richard Mack, former state legislator and AZ  Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson, former Fountain Hills Mayor Linda Kavanaugh, and former Goodyear Councilwoman, Vicki Gills.
- Endorsed by former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, former AZ Attorney General Bob Corbin, congresswomen Debbie Lesko, state representatives Joseph Chaplik, Barbara Parker, and Jacqueline Parker, and state senator John Kavanagh.

Jerry Sheridan

- The county sheriff is the primary law enforcement officer in the county and has the power to enforce the law in all unincorporated areas of the county. 
- The sheriff's duties include overseeing the county jail and the care of prisoners, serving warrants and court orders, collecting delinquent taxes, and conducting search and rescue operations.
- The sheriff is elected in a countywide partisan election for a four-year term.

Maricopa Sheriff, Republican Primary

Election results

Candidates (3)

Compare candidates

Public Safety

Jail Management

Criminal Justice

Endorsements