Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio has plans to deploy armed volunteers to guard Phoenix area schools. The move comes in following the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

Arpaio told KTVK he has the authority to mobilize a posse of private citizens to deter crime, although he has not yet talked to area schools. He plans to use volunteers to guard the perimeter of the schools and no volunteers would be inside the schools among students.

The announcement came Thursday, after two other Arizona officials made school related security suggestions.  Attorney General Tom Horne recommended firearms training for one person in each school. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu suggested training multiple teachers in each school to carry guns.