Phoenix Police Face Lawsuit Over Withheld Records from Democrat Sheriff Hopeful

By Staff Reporter |

The Phoenix Police Department (PPD) faces a lawsuit regarding its alleged failure to disclose records tied to former officer Tyler Kamp, a Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Sheriff. The legal action stems from claims that these records may expose further misconduct associated with Kamp.

Multiple reports have surfaced detailing sexual harassment complaints against Kamp during his tenure at PPD. Notably, a 2020 investigation concluded that he had sexually harassed a rookie female officer through text messages. Despite this finding, Kamp faced no disciplinary action since the investigation occurred after his retirement in 2021. Prior infractions include a one-day suspension in 2014 for unauthorized database access and prior reprimands for misusing a city vehicle.

The records in question may provide crucial insights into Kamp’s history. Voter Brian Anderson requested these documents in March. After five months without a response, Anderson’s attorney sent a demand letter to PPD. Although PPD indicated it would release the records by mid-September, it subsequently failed to do so, prompting Anderson to file a lawsuit.

“Defendant’s failure to disclose Mr. Kamp’s personnel records before the Primary Election has already resulted in the public not knowing possibly important matters of concern that the public should have knowledge of before voting at the General Election,” stated one court filing.

The sought-after records may support rumors alleging that Kamp engaged in sexual activities while on duty, including incidents in a patrol car and at police headquarters. These allegations were part of the discourse during the recent debate against his Republican opponent, Jerry Sheridan, who previously served as second in command under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The reasons behind PPD’s reluctance to release the records remain unclear. However, it is worth noting that Phoenix City Councilman Kevin Robinson, who supervised Kamp as assistant chief at PPD and currently chairs his campaign, has publicly endorsed him. Robinson expressed confidence in Kamp’s ability to lead with integrity and a focus on community service.

In a side note, recent compensation for chief deputies within the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office exceeded $200,000.

A brief court session took place recently involving PPD and Anderson, with a full hearing scheduled for the following week. Kamp, who switched from the Republican to Democratic party last December, is advocating for a continuation of Sheriff Paul Penzone’s reforms, emphasizing restorative justice over traditional incarceration methods — a strategy criticized by some as being lenient toward crime.

Additionally, Kamp’s platform includes plans to form a task force dedicated to addressing crime trends, to implement cross-agency collaborations, enhance hiring incentives, and to terminate the Melendres Court Orders, which impose specific operational mandates on the sheriff’s office.