The volunteer mall patrol posse was started by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in 1993 to combat the rise in violence and illegal activity in the malls, as criminals sought to take advantage of busy stores and parking lots filled with distracted shoppers. After 23 consecutive years that Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s volunteer posse patrolled valley malls during the Christmas holiday season with no violent activity occurring this year, 2015, by all appearances was one of the safest years so far for shoppers.
While other malls in the country sadly fell victim to gun violence this year, Phoenix area malls enjoyed a relatively crime free holiday shopping season as the deterrence factor of a highly visible posse patrol as successful, Arpaio said.
At the November 30th Mall Patrol Posse kickoff, Arpaio called for those who legally carry guns to take action against shooters perpetrating a mass shooting or terrorist situation, a statement which he also made on Facebook which generated 17.5 million hits.
Shortly after making the statement, a mass shooting occurred in san Bernadino California where 14 people were slaughtered. In an interview after the shooting, California Governor Jerry Brown commented that guns laws such as those in Arizona are too liberal and create a “gigantic back door through which terrorists can walk.”
Arpaio was deeply offended by the Governor’s remark saying the California head of state doesn’t seem to understand how many in the nation are feeling right now.
International and national violence and terrorism, Arpaio says, has more people in the nation and in Maricopa County on high alert and now buying or looking to buy guns.
“Our gun laws allow our citizens to legally carry and protect themselves where needed,” he says. “I again say, if you legally carry a concealed weapon or if you open carry, be ready to use it to protect yourself and those around you during a mass shooting or terrorist incident until law enforcement arrives.”
Arpaio plans to launch a new initiative to build the armed volunteer posse in the near future.
Here are the final stats for the Holiday 2015 Posse Mall Patrol:
- 383 posse members and reserve deputies volunteered a total of 2244 man hours
- The posse made nearly 6500 public contacts resulting in one criminal arrest
- Posse volunteers cleared two warrants
- Posse members assisted other law enforcement agencies in 133 incidents, the most notable being medical assistance calls and shoplifter apprehension