Do municipal police officers have statutory authority to execute writs of attachment, execution, replevin, or restitution?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. They can with a warrant
• D. Only in capital cities

Answer: (A)

Civil-process enforcement is handled by the officer designated for civil matters, not general police. In Arizona, writs of attachment, execution, replevin, and restitution are court orders that must be carried out by the sheriff’s office (and, in some cases, authorized process servers). Municipal police do not have statutory authority to execute these writs. A writ is a form of civil remedy, not a warrant, so simply having a police officer present or a warrant does not change who may execute the writ. If civil enforcement is needed, it’s the sheriff’s office that performs the execution, with any necessary police assistance as directed.