2
Oct
2014
By Calvin at 13:15 GMT, 9 years ago
Maricopa County Sheriff's officials are searching for a missing volunteer posseman.
They say 71-year-old Samuel Grider of Buckeye is believed to have last been at the Calvery Chapel in Maricopa on Sunday.
Sheriff's officials said Wednesday that Grider's pickup truck has been found in a remote portion of the desert directly north east of the Sonoran National monument in the Lower Rainbow Valley.
They say Grider is a retired Army veteran who recently had hip replacement surgery.
Grider is a 20-year veteran of the Sheriff's Crime Prevention Posse.
I thought I’d run this story found on News 4 Tucson, because first it is my hope that the Sheriff’s officials quickly find this gentleman, but secondly, because I was somewhat clueless as to what a posseman was. I thought the days of posses were long gone, but my research reveals otherwise.
This from Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse website http://www.mcsoposse.org/
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse is an all volunteer organization of specially trained men and women who serve the residents of Maricopa County Arizona by providing law enforcement support services to the Sheriff.
With over fifty different Posses, there are many ways in which the residents of Maricopa County are helping support their local Officers. From assisting with animal cruelty prevention, backing up deputies on DUI taskforce, providing advanced technology training, to searching for lost hikers, these volunteers do it all. The greatest resource that any community can have is volunteers. In times of need, such as a recession or depression, organizations of all types and sizes have to downsize. Unlike most companies, however, law enforcement cannot stop just because of budget cuts or political views. The laws must be enforced and the citizens of every community must feel safe.
Possemen are not sworn officers and have no arrest powers. They volunteer their hours for free, but must work at the direction of a sworn deputy (fulltime or reserve). While under the direction of a sworn deputy, a posse may be directed to make arrests, issue tickets, etc. This is known as "working under the color of authority" of the sworn deputy.
I admire these volunteers. Let’s hope Mr Grider turns up safe and well.
