On Thursday October 6, at 1:00 p.m. at the Viscount Suites Hotel, Deputy Sheriff Dr. Richard Carmona, will discuss the ongoing alleged improper, unethical and/or illegal activities in the Pima County Sheriffs Department, that have been reported by numerous deputies, corrections officers and civilian employees.
The allegations have led to an ongoing FBI police corruption investigation, directed at appointed Sheriff Chris Nanos and his two politically appointed leaders, Chief Deputy Chris Radtke and the former Chief of Staff, who committed suicide during the FBI investigation.
Many deputies and other Sheriff Department employees have been fearful of speaking out, due to the ongoing culture of retaliation and intimidation under Nanos’ leadership. There has been limited media coverage of these ongoing issues, and the public deserves to fully informed.
Carmona, a highly decorated 30 year veteran of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, and 17th Surgeon General of the United States, will be joined by the leadership of the Pima County Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Pima County Correction Officers Association, and the Tucson Police Officers Association.
At issue is the death of Bradley Gagnepain, Pima County Sheriff’s Department Chief of Staff. Gagnepain, the focus on an FBI investigation, took his own life earlier this year.
Under FBI Investigation Pima County Sheriff Chief Gagnepain Takes Own Life
As the reported at the time, Gagnepain was considered by many to be the mastermind behind many of the more questionable practices of the Sheriff’s Department. After being appointed to replace former Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, Chris Nanos named Gagnepain, who had retired, as “Chief of Staff,” a position that had never existed before. In that position, Gagnepain oversaw the inner workings that are now under investigation by the FBI.
Nanos told employees in an email after Gagnepain’s death: “We lost one of the great leaders and visionaries in our department’s history. Brad Gagnepain was a behind the scenes leader, the man behind the curtain, who had his fingerprints on so many of the successful programs and events in our department. Although, as a true leader, he took credit for none.”
Also at issue is the use of RICO funds for an award ceremony among other things.
Nanos is expected to rely on the fact that he sought approval from Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall for the use of funds. However, LaWall has allegedly miused RICO funds herself.
As the ADI reported this summer, LaWall in November 2015, approved a transfer of RICO funds in the amount of $2,000 to Greater Tucson Leadership group to fund a retirement party of sorts for former Sheriff Clarence Dupnik.
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