Arizona sheriff aims to put armed posse at schools

• Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he has authority to mobilize private citizens to fight crime
• Arpaio says the posse would not be inside the schools, but around the perimeter
• Two state officials proposed ideas for arming school employees, Thursday

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona sheriff has announced plans to deploy an armed volunteer posse to protect students in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio tells KTVK-TV he has the authority to mobilize private citizens to fight crime.

He says he doesn't plan to put posse members inside Phoenix-area schools but will have them posted around the perimeters.

Arpaio is known as one of the nation's most high-profile supporters of strict U.S.-Mexico border policy.

His plan announced Thursday comes after two other Arizona officials announced ideas for school security. Attorney General Tom Horne proposed firearms training for one person in each school, and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu proposed training multiple educators per school to carry guns.