What to know about Frank Milstead, Maricopa County sheriff candidate and former DPS director

Frank Milstead is running for sheriff of Maricopa County on his career experience in Arizona law enforcement, but his tenure left behind scars that are still apparent in a recent lawsuit.

Milstead started as a police officer and later a commander at the Phoenix Police Department before serving five years as Mesa police chief. He was appointed in 2015 by then-Gov. Doug Ducey to lead the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Milstead's DPS career was marked by his and his department's handling of the 2015 Interstate 10 freeway shootings in Phoenix.

Here's what we know about Milstead and his run for sheriff.

Who is Frank Milstead?

Frank Milstead was born and raised in Phoenix and worked in Arizona law enforcement for nearly 40 years.

He worked as the director of DPS for five years, with a rank of colonel, until his retirement in 2020.

Why is he running for Maricopa County sheriff?

Throughout his campaign, Milstead has spotlighted his policies of being tough on crime and rebuilding community relationships.

On his campaign website, he states he will focus on issues Maricopa County faces including "migrant crime, fentanyl, and human trafficking."

Milstead has echoed the tough-on-crime sentiment of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has endorsed Milstead.

His campaign centers on six focal points: community engagement, diversifying the Sheriff's Office and focusing on de-escalation, establishing a citizen review board, strengthening border security, expanding resource officer training for schools, and collaborating with businesses to address theft protection.

During Arizona's Clean Elections Debate on June 26, Milstead also said he would work to end the federal court oversight of the Sheriff's Office, which began as a consequence of the 2008 Melendres racial profiling lawsuit, when Arpaio was in office.

A U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of the Latino drivers who accused the Sheriff's Office of racial profiling, and court oversight of the office was mandated beginning in 2013.

Milstead said the oversight was a "negative influence on morale." Former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone cited the federal oversight as a reason why he stepped down earlier this year.

The Sheriff's Office, with more than 3,000 employees, is responsible for patrolling unincorporated areas of the county and municipalities without a designated police force. It also serves Superior Court orders and warrants, collects delinquent taxes, coordinates search and rescue missions and oversees the county's five jails.

What did Milstead do as director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety?

When Milstead retired in 2020, former Gov. Doug Ducey praised him for reducing "use of force" incidents, eliminating court delays caused by late DPS reports, increasing efficiency in clearing traffic collisions, and improving diversity in hiring.

Milstead's leadership was called into question after the 2015 arrest of Leslie Allen Merritt Jr., a man accused in a series of 11 high-profile Phoenix freeway shootings.

DPS investigators were accused of rushing to judgment and using slapdash police work under intense public pressure to build a case against whoever shot vehicles on Interstate 10 and other Valley freeways. A ballistics expert challenged the evidence that led to Merritt’s arrest. The challenge led to Merritt's release from custody. Merritt later filed and settled a lawsuit against the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in 2016.

Milstead also received a warning from a Yavapai County deputy in 2019 when he drove down Interstate 17 at more than 90 mph in his personal vehicle while off-duty. He stated his regret for his actions in a series of social media posts afterward, saying he would "reflect and learn."

Large legacy: Arpaio's shadow looms over Republican candidates for Maricopa County sheriff

Why is he the subject of a new lawsuit?

A lawyer for Leslie Merritt Jr., the man exonerated in the 2015 Interstate 10 freeway shootings, filed a legal complaint on July 2 against Milstead for making false accusations against him.

On June 23, former DPS Director Milstead appeared on 12 News' "Sunday Square Off" for an interview about his 2024 campaign for Maricopa County sheriff.

Prompted about the freeway shootings, Milstead said, "Leslie Merritt, in my opinion, is still the freeway shooter. We had the right guy in custody."

Merritt attorney Jason Lamm alleged in the claim that Milstead intentionally made false statements in the interview that perpetuated false allegations and caused Merritt further emotional distress.

Milstead acknowledged in the televised interview that ballistics tests related to Merritt's investigation were performed incorrectly and the investigation's first interviews could have been handled better.

"We have a good basis to file a claim," said Lamm on July 4.

Fallout: Man cleared of charges in 2015 shooting spree along I-10 files complaint against ex-DPS chief

Lamm was Merritt's attorney in the original legal proceedings. The case was dismissed by a Maricopa County judge in 2016.

The July 2 complaint emphasized that Merritt never was recharged after a judge's August 2020 ruling that Merritt was factually innocent in the shootings.

Merritt was the only person arrested in the shootings, which occurred almost nine years ago.

What did Milstead do before he was DPS director?

Milstead started his career at Phoenix police in 1985, serving there for 25 years, according to his LinkedIn account.

In March 2010, Milstead joined the Mesa Police Department as chief and stayed there for five years until he was appointed head of DPS by then-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey in 2015.

The year before, Milstead had been a candidate for Seattle police chief but stayed in Mesa when Seattle went with someone else.

Milstead's father also was prominent in Arizona law enforcement. What did he do?

Col. Ralph Milstead, Frank Milstead's father, also served as DPS director and with the Phoenix Police Department.

Milstead's father, who served as DPS director in the 1980s, was known for his clash with controversial then-Gov. Evan Mecham, according to Republic reports.

Ralph Milstead testified at the governor's impeachment hearing in 1988 as the key witness against Mecham on an obstruction of justice charge.

Ralph Milstead died in 1996.

Why did Milstead's former domestic partner file an order of protection?

In June 2022, a woman who had lived with Milstead as his domestic partner filed and was granted an order of protection against Milstead, citing fears for her and her children.

The woman alleged he had assaulted, threatened, harassed and stalked her after their relationship ended earlier that year, according to court documents.

Milstead was accused of grabbing her arms and violently shaking her in July 2021, causing significant bruising, according to court documents.

"This incident, and several others, caused (the woman) to fear Mr. Milstead to the point that she sought professional psychological counseling and support," court documents stated.

Milstead was accused of making threats against the woman through about 200 calls, texts, emails, and in-person visits between April and June 2022, according to the woman's statements in court documents.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is Frank Milstead, candidate for Maricopa County sheriff?