Pima County Sheriff Chief Deputy Chris Radtke has been indicted for the misuse of RICO funds. Radtke was served last Friday, and has since submitted his resignation.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos issued a statement saying he “will not comment on another law enforcement agency’s investigation.
Nanos claimed that on “RICO money expenditures, there is a stringent process in place with independent review from an outside agency. There is also an audit on the backend of all expenditures and we will continue to review all processes to make sure checks and balances are working appropriately.”
Late last week, Dr. Richard Carmona appeared at a press conference at the Viscount Hotel and described a hostile work environment under Sheriff Chris Nanos. The Department has been shrouded in paranoia as the FBI has investigated the shady dealings by Nanos and his top command crew.
Carmona flanked by members of the Pima County Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Pima County Correction Officers Association, and the Tucson Police Officers Association described an oppressive work environment filled with distrust and cronyism.
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The highly questionable circumstances surrounding the investigation of Chief Deputy Brad Gagnepain’s suicide ramped up fear within the Department. It appeared to many that Nanos had hoped to pin the misuse of RICO funds on Gagnepain. Sources say that Gagnepain had planned to talk to the FBI.
Nanos has been accused of interfering with the “Mansions Parties” investigation on behalf of Radtke, whose nephew was a subject of the investigation.
Kevin Kubitskey, chairman of the Pima County Deputy Sheriffs Association stated, “We regret that our Department is going through this right now. I strongly encourage all deputies to keep up the professionalism that they have shown through this whole ordeal. Our first obligation is to serve the community and we do that knowing that justice will be served and all parties will be held accountable. We are grateful to Dr. Richard Carmona for speaking out on our behalf at great personal risk. We hope that the recent developments confirm that Dr. Carmona’s statement last week was not in fact political but a result of serious concern and fact checking. On behalf of the Pima County Deputy Sheriffs Association, and the Pima County Correction Officers Association we hope that the community realizes that our message has been truthful and forthright this entire time. We have endured personal attacks attempts to divide the ranks, but ultimately the truth will prevail and we will continue to serve the good residents of Pima County.”
“I was given a card a few months ago. I look at it every day. It reads: Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence; talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.’ If it were not for the men and women in this Department, the attacks we have endured would have been overwhelming. Together we have persevered and we are on our way to restoring integrity on every level of this Department,” concluded Kubitskey.
Mark Napier stated, “I am both disappointed and upset by this news. Mr. Radtke was handpicked by appointed Sheriff Nanos to fill the Chief Deputy position. Mr. Nanos has actively denied that there was any substance to the FBI investigation and attacked anyone who suggested it had merit. He has not been truthful to the people of Pima County. It is not reasonable to assume that Mr. Nanos was oblivious to criminal conduct by his second in command. If he was, or claims to be, that suggests that he is not capable of leading our County as its Chief Law Enforcement Officer. This is perhaps why Mr. Nanos refused to present himself to the voters and answer questions in a debate or public forum. We all should be outraged that corruption has occurred at the highest levels of our Sheriff’s Department.”