Tucson Standard

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he doesn’t plan to make arrests at abortion clinics because "there are much greater public safety issues out there."

“I have a community to serve, to protect, to keep safe,” Nanos told KGun.com, adding he also lacks the workforce to engage in such action. "There are much greater public safety issues out there than those in abortion clinics.” 

As it is, no one in Pima County or the city of Tucson is sure how the state will implement its new abortion law following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Nanos said he would much rather see the people of Pima County voice their opinions at the polls without the hint of violence.

“Go to the polls. That’s where you protest," he said. "That’s where you accomplish your goals."

With the city of Tucson having a local constitution in place that allows for its enactment of state law, city leaders have already instructed law enforcement on responding to such complaints.

“TPD will refer those complaints to the Arizona State Department of Health,” city Attorney Mike Rank said. Rankin added that once a complaint is filed, it will go through an investigation process, with the complaint ultimately needing to be validated by the state Department of Health, the County Attorney and then a Grand Jury.

“That’s how a lot of charges are in fact already presented for a felony prosecution rather than police showing up at someone’s door and arresting them, they go to the County’s Attorney’s Office,” he said.

While Tucson residents can still be indicted for performing an abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, officers won’t make a physical arrest at local abortion clinics.

Nanos said the same probably holds for Pima County as well.