In 2010 Sheriff Arpaio asked Jerry to become his Chief Deputy. Jerry was almost immediately inundated with federal litigation, audits, administrative issues and reorganization. The line of duty death of Deputy Coleman in January 2012 resulting from a violent gun battle was the most painful time for him. The Melendrez litigation which had been in progress many years prior to Jerry becoming chief deputy came to a head. It was a punishing time for Jerry but he feels the six years, as di?cult as they were, prepared him to become Sheri?.

In January 1977 Jerry attended the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy Academy. Upon graduation he worked out of District 1 in the southeastern part of the county. He worked construction during the day and rode at night with legendary deputies like John Schattenburg and Nate Jackson who had a profound infuence on the rest of his career.

In 1978 he hired as a detention o?cer and then a deputy sheriff attending the Phoenix Police Academy. As a patrol deputy after ?ve years Jerry was promoted to Corporal assigned a squad and transferred to District 4, a newly created substation that served the northeastern portion of the county. A couple years later he was promoted to sergeant staying in patrol. A couple of years later he found himself as a lieutenant still in patrol and now completing the administrative duties of the District while still working the road

1993 Jerry was once again promoted, to the rank of captain. He was assigned to Dist. 3 in the northwestern part of the county. This area included the communities of Sun City, Sun City West and Wickenburg. About one year later he was moved back to lead Dist. 4.

Jerry has been in Arizona for many years coming from Queens, New York.  He has been here in Arizona since 1976.  His dad was a New York City Police so he has the Police blood in his family since he was born.

Clair Van Steenwyk