Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio has ordered all of his deputies to be armed 24 hours a day so that they are prepared for anything.
Arpaio spoke at the press conference, which also included the announcement that all deputies are now carrying AR-15 rifles, on the same day one of his employees was killed while off-duty in the driveway of his Phoenix home, according to KNXV-TV.
Detention Officer Jorge Vargas was fatally shot while preparing to drive to work on Thursday. The suspect is still being sought.
"I want all my deputies to be armed with the greatest firepower available 24 hours a day," Arpaio said.
The sheriff said that all of his deputies should carry a handgun whenever they're not at work just in case they come in harm's way.
"Should any off-duty deputy come across a crime being committed, it is the policy of this office for that deputy to take the appropriate action to resolve the situation," he said.
"While this decision may seem controversial to some in the public and among other law enforcement agencies, I have extreme confidence in the training and professionalism of the men and women deputies in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office."
Seized drug money was used to purchase the 400 AR-15 rifles and is a movie the sheriff says is a must after seeing three of his deputies shot in the last two years.
