The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office partners with law enforcement agencies in many ways, but did you know we have our own sworn staff of law enforcement officers? Under recent organizational changes, the Investigations Division now falls under the Investigations Department, which also consists of the Public Safety and Executive Protection Details.

The MCAO Investigations Division collaborates with local, state, county, and national law enforcement agencies and supports the work of our prosecutors. Both sworn officers and civilian employees perform specific law enforcement-related or investigative support functions.

Discover how the MCAO Investigators assist other areas of the office »

Did you know the Public Safety Liaisons at the MCAO are on call 24/7/365 to respond to first responder critical incidents, including officer-involved shootings? These are live, developing scenes, often in the middle of the night, that threaten the safety of our community. Our team of seasoned law enforcement liaisons are on sight, collaborating with officers and emergency personnel, and providing technical assistance during the investigation if needed. The primary duty of this team is to analyze the criminal investigation, review the evidence and convene the Critical Incident Review Committee to make a recommendation to the County Attorney whether the actions by a first responder violate state law.

The Public Safety Liaison Detail team has a very difficult but crucial responsibility within MCAO and for our community, working with all of the over 30 law enforcement agencies in Maricopa County. 

Find out more about the Public Safety Liaison Team  »

As a way to stimulate the American economy, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun sending economic impact payments or stimulus checks to millions of U.S residents. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of information and confusion from many sources surrounding these checks. This process has been ideal for scammers who continue to try to take advantage of this pandemic that has put many in a vulnerable situation. While some scammers may be after the checks themselves, others are looking to use this opportunity to collect personal information such as social security information, bank account numbers, and other identifiable information.

Learn how to recognize a scammer »

Paying off your student loans can be stressful, especially during a pandemic. To help out, the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law to provide some flexibility and temporary relief to those working to pay off their federal student loans. Federal student loans that qualify for this program have been placed in administrative forbearance, meaning payments to these loans can be stopped until September 30th. While you don’t need to enroll in this program, it’s essential to verify that your loans qualify before you stop making payments.

How to keep yourself safe from student loan scams »

When we think about internet safety we think about actions taken online. But what about your workspace? Does it follow the same safety guidelines as your office space? Paying attention to your privacy at home can be just as important in keeping your work data safe.

Tips for safe teleworking »

Summertime is right around the corner, and as temperatures continue to increase, so do the risks of injury for adults and children. Aside from Yuma, Phoenix receives the second most sunshine and has more days that exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit than any other city in the U.S. Maricopa County residents are no strangers to heat but over time can become complacent to the risk and dangers of being out in the sun. This summer, make sure to plan and get into the habit of keeping safety in mind, especially around children.

How to keep safe in the extreme valley heat »

Every year thousands of children disappear from their homes and communities. According to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, there are 30,618 active missing person files for juveniles under the age of 18 as of December 31, 2019. While children go missing under a variety of circumstances, there are many things parents, caregivers, and adults can do to help prevent this from happening and keep their children safe. MCAO encourages parents to take time now and teach their children the "check first" rules, so their children are always keeping safety in mind.

Tips and tricks to help your children create safe habits »

During these uncertain times, it might be easy to indulge in habits that can help reduce stress. While certain practices can improve our health, exercise our brain, or help us learn a new skill, vaping is not one of these. A relatively new product, e-cigarettes continue to be popular among our youth despite the number of health warnings and the recent outbreak of lung injury associated with its use.

Compared to regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes are electronic devices that use a battery to heat a liquid made up of nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals and turn them into an aerosol. This liquid comes in a wide variety of "fun" flavors like cotton candy and watermelon. The devices also come in many shapes and sizes and can be easily concealed in a jacket or backpack.

See more stats and learn how to keep your kids safe from this new threat »