On Thursday, Oct. 6, Dr. Richard Carmona held a press conference to act as a spokesman for Pima County Sheriff’s Deputies who have allegedly been blacklisted, threatened, harassed, had their wives harassed and who have been improperly reassigned and demoted by Sheriff Chris Nanos and his cronies. As Carmona put it, the Pima County Sheriffs Department is taking actions that are “immoral, unethical, and possibly criminal;” or more generally speaking,” a reign of terror,” a phrase he repeated at least twice.
Carmona began his press conference in the early afternoon in a small conference room at the Viscount Suite Hotel. standing behind him were some of the people for whom he was speaking—fifteen members of Pima County Deputy Sheriffs Association. They wore tee shirts with a small PCDSA logo. A representative of the Tucson Police Officers Association, Officer McGinnis, was present and at one point declared the union’s solidarity with PCDSA. The corrections officers representative was not present, but they too stood in solidarity with the deputies. The audience filled the room, there were about as many people standing as seated. Television media was present.
Carmona identified Nanos, Chief Deputy Chris Radtke and Chief of Staff Bradley Gagnepain, as those whom he believed to be responsible for the “reign of terror.” Nanos was originally appointed by the Pima County Board of Supervisors to the post of Sheriff after Clarence Dupnik resigned, he is now running for election to that post. Bradley Gagnepain had retired from the Sheriffs Department, but was brought back by Dupnik to be a “special advisor;” later, Nanos appointed him to fill a position newly created by Nanos called “Chief of Staff.” Gagnepain died of a gunshot wound in June of this year, around the time he was named in an FBI corruption investigation of the Pima County Sheriffs Department.
Specifically, the FBI was looking at possible misuse of funds acquired through the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. The funds come from money and property seized under the act and may be spent by law enforcement but only on a narrow list of areas. Illegal spending of RICO money is a felony. On Oct. 10, Chris Radtke was indicted by the FBI for just that. Radtke immediately resigned his post. Sheriff Nanos declined to comment on the matter.
Speaking of the death of Gagnepain, Carmona reported that he received phone calls from deputies at the scene who told him that Nanos and Radtke showed up, took command of the crime scene, and “kept them from doing their job;” specifically, they were not allowed to establish a chain of custody regarding evidence or interview witnesses.
After Carmona made his initial speech, he gave the floor to Deputy Kevin Kempinski, who said he not only refused to be a part of the corruption and cronyism, but was interviewed by the FBI. He said these actions earned him a demotion, a reassignment, and being cut off from support staff. He also recounted episodes of petty harassment, such as deputies assigned to stand in his doorway and stare at him. His wife, who also worked at the department, was also subject to harassment for being, well, his wife. Carmona said that he should be awarded “a medal of valor” for all of that to which he was subjected.
Carmona made the point that law enforcement officers, he repeatedly referred to them as “my family,” are professionals who consider it a privilege to serve the community and are disgusted with what has happened to the department. “Leadership by intimidation never works,” Carmona said.
Carmona acknowledged it is an election year, but insisted that the event was not political. Rather, he said it was informational because the public deserved to know the facts. He asked that people support the deputies that are risking their careers and their livelihoods by going public.
Jonathan Hoffman is the Weekly‘s resident Libertarian columnist.
This article appears in Oct 6-12, 2016.
Isn’t Carmona a democrat? My thought is that we might have mistakenly elected Nanos, while the FBI fumbles (6 months) through an investigation and people are not surviving long enough to be indicted.
Carmona may have saved the lives of some of the others by getting it out there for the public to see.
How is Clarence Dupnick? Is he involved?
Thank you Dr Carmona. Would you be able to do the same to James Comey at the FBI?
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/12/fbi-doj-roiled-by-comey-lynch-decision-to-let-clinton-slide-by-on-emails-says-insider.html
“No trial level attorney agreed, no agent working the case agreed, with the decision not to prosecute — it was a top-down decision,” said the source”
It is amazing is it not that now 4 month after the investigation story broke 3 months since Gagnepain homicide, 1 month after the destroying of court search warrant evidence. 7 month causing a gag order in the Bootman by prejudicing the case. It must be visceral talk radio the root cause. What a ship of fools the dems are and the red star won’t report on it till the editorial staff just as long as you Protect LaWall go ahead and print a response limiting responsibility to the party.
Nanos was appointed by the PC Supervisors including Ray Carroll. Shouldn’t there be an investigation as to what they based their decision on?
https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2015/07/07/no-surprise-nanos-new-pima-county-sheriff/
Ally Miller opposed him but was shut down by the thug majority.
Dupnik is involved of course this didnt just start. He had the previous Sheriff Boykin on the payroll with benefits and retirement for 20 years that nobody saw or heard of him even knew he was still employed. these Radtke & Gagnepain were the same watch commanders that were going around taking down opposite campaign of Dupnik years ago a felony. the Superior Court Judge that reduced the charges. Is the same judge that LasVegas Casino forgave $250,000 in gambling debts. Now at the Indian gaming such losses dont have to be reported. Just think if we had a representative judiciary then. Dupnik might not have been elected and we would of had a deputy at Safeway
Carmona has some history in this town and it is not pretty. People in glass houses should not be throwing stones. I bet the officers spouses and partners have a different story. I trust that the sheriff is not corrupt and is following the letter of the law. If anyone has cronie issues it would be carmona
“On Oct. 10, Chris Radtke was indicted by the FBI …”
The FBI doesn’t indict. A federal grant jury does.
And, there is talk that the indictment occurred Friday, Oct. 7, and Nanos was notified that day. Oct. 10 was a federal holiday, Columbus Day.
Red Star:
FBI investigating Sheriff’s Department over spending
By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star Feb 11, 2016
The FBI is interviewing Pima County Sheriff’s Department employees in a probe of possible misuse of public funds and corruption.
That was 8 months ago. Could misuse of RICO funds be grounds for recovery from life insurance or retirement proceeds? This is just crazy enough of a scenario that the brass blames it on the deceased and points to the supposed suicide as evidence of his wrongdoing.
Who oversees the Sheriff and this lawlessness regarding the investigation of Gagnepains death? Could it have been murder?
Carmona is a loud mouth, gramdstanding, self promoting fraud. He has been denied practice at one Tucson hospital because he was lousy doctor. I can tell he is lying becuase his lips are moving……..
Carmona is arrogant, uses his resume every time he makes a news statement, mis-represents his credentials, is malicious as are his statements :
“allegedly been blacklisted, threatened, harassed, had their wives harassed and who have been improperly reassigned and demoted by Sheriff Chris Nanos and his cronies”
Where is the proof, where is the paper trail for this alleged harassment?
If he knew about all this mis spending why is Carmona just now going public with it? He was there for many of Awards ceremonies and spending meetings, he is not innocent.
These people are hiding behind a crooked man.
I would ask that people not allow partisanship to taint their view of this in one direction or the other. The fact is that there is an FBI investigation into corruption at the highest levels of our Sheriffs Department. Dr. Carmona felt compelled to speak out on the corruption and mistreat of PCSD personnel before the indictment of Chief Deputy Radtke. The Deputy Sheriff Association and Correction Officer Association have conducted a vote of a lack of confidence in the current appointed Sheriff. This is not about Carmona or a single group of politically motivated people picking on Mr. Nanos. There are some systemic problems at our Sheriffs Department which should be concerning to all citizens of the County. Public safety should not know partisanship. It is not a partisan issue. It is a community issue, a quality of life issue, an issue we are all stakeholders in. I would hope that you might look at my candidacy and believe as I do that it is time for a change. Mark Napier (http://www.markdnapier.info)
The Pima County Sheriff’s office has a history of corruption. Way back, a Sheriff Martin was accused of participating in the operation of whore houses. Not so long ago, Sheriff Burr’s management nearly led to a shoot out among deputies. Now this. Sounds like it’s still the wild west with a bad sheriff in charge today. Given Dr. Carmona’s information, it’s clear that Mr. Napier is the choice for voters.
Best wishes Mr Napier to get this ship righted. Why does everything have to become partisan? It eliminates solutions. You have our support.
Even a whiff of corruption is too much in law enforcement. Using RICO funds (unconstitutional in the first place) extracted from drug dealers to pay for a fancy banquet crosses a few lines. I’m a Democrat and I’ll vote for Hillary, but not Nanos. His opponent will be the first Republican I’ve voted for in years.
Come on bslap. Hillary and Bill have taken millions from Saudi and Qatar while they also funded ISIS. Would you really do that to our country?
I stand with our military. Not against them.
Rat T
We need to tolerate ones like bslap for they dont have reason or understanding they know not of what the hear or see they subscribe to the Arizona Daily Star. A severe debilitating of tolerance or understanding it should be called the Pima County Media
Carmona, needs to promote himself as he is not practicing medicine has hasn’t for years.
Carmona needs to distance himself from Nano’s & PCSO administrative people which he was one of till. Again he finds himself on a sinking ship with those inside casting overboard first. I wish him well with his endeavors never again to be associated with the PCSO.
We need to start with a new leadership, and new bit of faith, a new sheet of paper. If the Deputy assoc. elects him to represent them not wise.
When Napier is elected I hope he does not go outside to friends and associates from the past. I would hope he promotes from police agencies within the valley. Not Exclusively PCSO rank and file. As so many have left to other agencies. I hope Napier has the administrative ability and experience to install and maintain a merit and promotional system that is public access information. I hope that all sheriffs information will be pool media outlet never again release info to exclusive sources.
let’s think of how Napier will interact with the LaWall County Attorney assoc. there are some real stink there too. He will be extremely hobbled as the ghosts from the basement have come up in the house, will there be an exorcism? Can there be if the owner of the house sold there soul to be owner. (no faith allowed)
Changing Napier is only a half measure we need to do a full measure. Pima county needs a overhaul in leadership Starting with the Pima County Attorney. Never again should Pima have a resignation appointment if so it must be done by the opposition party.
Just look around I have 5 children all educated here all grad U of A all had to move for opportunity. 14 grandchildren that I long to see that will never reside in Tucson in my lifetime.
Three weeks to the election. let’s hope they don’t force Nanos out and force Carmona in before the election. He would not be on the ballot.
What would happen then, special election?