Have gun, Will talk: Arizona Sheriff Clarence Dupnik not speechless over Tucson shootings or much else

For a chief law enforcement officer who's supposed to be assembling the complex criminal investigations of six sudden homicides against a local 22-year-old suspect, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik sure has found ample time the last couple of days to appear all over national news media, spouting prickly opinions on pretty much anything asked.

The sheriff, who celebrates his 75th birthday today, is understandably defensive. He had no officers at Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Saturday open-air get-together in a shopping parking lot. Just the sight of a parked patrol car near a federal officeholder might have discouraged a troublemaker.

Indeed, Dupnik's deputies didn't arrive at the carnage scene until summoned by frantic 911 callers. By then, officers didn't even have to capture the suspected....

...shooter, Jared Loughner. Several brave, unarmed crowd members had already subdued the man; good thing they did because the kid still had ammo for his 9-millimeter Glock semiautomatic.

Dupnik followed the usual public relations communications template for such crises: a news briefing late the first day, as national media types and a parade of satellite trucks stream into town, to efficiently distribute to everyone at once what little information can be released by then.

Authorities are usually quite circumspect at these initial briefings, for fear of poisoning any future jury pool ("We have the shooter!") or tipping off possible accomplices still at large.

Dupnik didn't release the name of the young man already in custody or speculate on a motive. The sheriff did, however, hand the upcoming legal defense some support by volunteering that the suspect was clearly unbalanced.

He also announced that Giffords, a personal friend, was the main target, although 19 other people were hit, six fatally.

And then, based on no evidence whatsoever, the veteran of 31 years as sheriff expounded on how the shootings were connected to the heightened temperature of today's political rhetoric. In his own prose certain to make Arizona tourism authorities wince, Dupnik said:

When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.

If, indeed, Sheriff Dupnik is quite certain the climate is so dangerous and Arizona so full of boiling political rhetoric, anger and abundant armed nutjobs stoked by irresponsible media that made his friend Giffords a likely target, why were there no deputies present Saturday or just stopping by the Safeway rally to be seen? The way donut shops and all-night convenience stores are so delighted to have uniformed officers visibly patronizing their place of business routinely.

This isn't the first time Dupnik willingly walked into politicial controversies, portraying himself as a simple law enforcement professional with no political interests. Last year he called Arizona's controversial new immigration law, which his department would be expected to enforce, "unwise," "stupid" and "racist."

At one church forum he commented, "We didn’t have a tea party until we had a black president.” Asked to elaborate, the sheriff added: "I was talking about how bigotry is alive and well in America.”

With little mystery and no manhunt to preoccupy the hungry media battalions, willing officials were in big demand to fill airtime.

And Dupnik was definitely willing. On Monday, the day of Loughner's first legal appearance, the sheriff had interviews with CBS News and Fox News. On ABC News, Dupnik attacked Rush Limbaugh, not previously thought to be involved in the case. On CNN he said "the hard right is deliberately fueling the fire." The sheriff also took a phone call from President Obama and no doubt will see him at Wednesday's memorial service at the University of Arizona.

"I'm especially disappointed in the sheriff," said Arizona's Rep. Trent Franks, "because we were looking to him for straight facts and he politicized this."

The unspoken truth is Dupnik's incorrigible media showboating may be just fine with federal investigators, who typically move into such high-profile incidents and quietly take over the investigations by Day Two. If the old guy's busy out front blabbing on TV, he's not in the feds' hair, as close-cropped as it usually is.

Related Items:

Tucson shootings: History reveals mental illness, not rhetoric, behind more assassinations

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik calls some Arizona gun laws height of insanity

Gov. Jan Brewer says 'Arizona is in pain, our grief is profound'

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photos: Eric Thayer / Reuters

Comments

[Lefty or Conservative ?]

Youre right if you said lefty.All the leftys are blaming ''hate talk''from the
conservatives disculping the shooter....leftys want to see the presumed killer
receive psychiatric treatment instead of a sentence fit for the crime.
Classmates have said he was a ''lefty pothead'',an avid reader of Marx and of
national socialist litterature.Why did lefty sherrif Dupnik neglect to act after
repeated interventions by his own officers where it was obvious that this guy
should be put on the list of persons unfit to possess firearms as Arizona law
provides.Is Dupnik senile or duplicitous to the point of hoping for a tragedy
that would put him in a position to spew all that venom currently coming out
from that hole under his nose ?

[ibeeducky]

This Sheriff should be recalled.
He is politicizing a terribly tragic event. His job should be "fact finding" about this killer and this horrific event.. Nothing more and nothing less. It is already sounding like his department had information about this killer...maybe he is trying to cover his behind.

[Telly]

The Sheriff was a personal friend of Giffords and Judge Roll; he has every right to speak his mind against the hateful, irresponsible, and fervently anti-American teabaggers.

Stop trying to deflect the blame. The shooter had obsessions no different than Glenn Beck, and was no more crazy than any one of the so-called conservative loons which can be found all over the internet spewing their hate.

[foxo]

Good way to deflect attention away from this hayseed sheriff not doing his job.

[Left's best before date was nov. 2]

All kinds of leftys are finaly expressing their rancor and frustration after the
evisceration of last november.Looks like the firedoglake worshipers are
gratifying this blog with their usual exagerations,lies and vomit.So ironical
to see all the usual rable rousers siding with a sheriff.Leftys have a special
place in their hearts for sheriffs weak on crime and illegal immigration.They
are very allergic to energic law enforcers of the Arpaio caliber.Arpaio acts
and talks little,Dupnik talks a whole lot and likes to think he is the conscience
of the nation.So busy talking ,no time left to do his job.

[Dupnik needs a gallon of immodium]

Dupnik is afflicted with the same acute verbal diarhea as our gaffe prone Biden
fella. Both need massive doses of immodium and cigar size suppositorys.

[Brian Goettl]

This line from the article about Dupnnil struck me: Last year he called Arizona's controversial new immigration law, which his department would be expected to enforce, "unwise," "stupid" and "racist." Isn't Dupnik's beef with the Tea Party their supposed harsh rhetoric towards government? Isn't Dupnik attacking his own state government with harsh rhetoric?

Dupnik also attacked Rush Limbaugh for making assertions based on half the facts or no facts at all. This came after Dupnik admitted there was no evidence to support his assertion that Luaghner was motivated by the alleged climate of hate supposedly engendered by Limbaugh. It's sad to say, but Dupnik appears to be going senile. Most of his comments have been half baked at best.

[ehong]

To those think that the Right's political rhetoric is out of line. How about the following rhetoric by the President, is he inciting violence? It's nothing but an metaphor! Both and left and right used these metaphors. Anyone thinks the Right is to blame is purely bias. The sheriff is one political heck!

“A Republican majority in Congress would mean “hand-to-hand combat” on Capitol Hill for the next two years, threatening policies Democrats have enacted to stabilize the economy,” — Obama, October 6, 2010

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,”— Obama in July 2008

“I want you to argue with them and get in their face!”— Barack Obama, September 2008

“We’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us.”— Obama to Latinos, October 2010

“I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I’m angry!” Obama on ACORN Mobs, March 2010 “We talk to these folks… so I know whose *** to kick.“ — Obama on the private sector, June 2010

“Argue with neighbors, Get in their face!,” - President Barack Obama”

“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard,” - President Barack Obama”

“I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry.” - President Barack Obama”

“Punish your enemies”- President Barack Obama”

“We talk to these folks… so I know whose *** to kick.“ - President Barack Obama”

“I’m itching for a fight.” - President Barack Obama”

“Hand-to-hand combat” - President Barack Obama”

[Seriously]

Wow all these comments are just people talking nonsense of how the opposing party is to blame. The only person responsible for this is the shooter, only the shooter. Just because Palin says reload and Obama wants to "bring a gun to a knife fight" means nothing. The parties hate each other. Don't use this tragedy as an example of how the other is ignorant and biased. Surprising how it takes a 15 year old actually say somthing.

[john jackson]

The AZ Sheriff Dupnick is an accessory to murder. He knew that boy was crazy and had threatened to kill other and yet he still let him walk the streets until the massacre occurred. He practically put the gun in that boy's hand and pulled the trigger. And then he uses a typical liberal tactic to blame others so they will not look into his professional malfeasance. This man is nothing more than white gutter trash and the sooner the good Lord takes his life the better Arizonans will be as well as all Americans.

Sheriff Dupnick is a despicable, bigoted, hate mongering, homophobic, law enforcement officer that give all police a bad reputation. He deserves to be put in jail next to the killer. God please strike this man down...

[Tom]

Why would a law enforcement official speaking at a press conference just a couple of hours after a horrendous mass murder inject a political element into this murder with no evidence to support his theory. It was incredibly unwise and unprofessional. The more information that comes out about the murderer, the more foolish the sheriff looks. He has likely destroyed his already suspect reputation with his hot-headed and unsubstantiated accusations. I feel sorry for the people of Pima County who have a sheriff that cares more about politics than law enforcements. IF he was concerned about politicians being put at risk by political rhetoric he should have had somebody there protecting the Congressperson. FAIL!

[David Minnich]

All the evidence so far indicates Loughner is an extremely mentally ill person who has no coherent grip on reality; therefore, the idea that Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck or the Tea Party was culpable in anyway for what he did is itself insane. "Barney Fife" Dupnick had no facts or logic to back up his statements.

Once again, the lefties double-down on a gutter political attack that is blowing up in their faces.

[jopiper]

Wow. I am employed by a city here in Colorado, and we are not allowed to talk politics publicly while on city time. This braying jacka$s apparently gets paid to talk about his politics. Too bad he isn't trying to stop mass shootings by crazy people.

[Tomthumbed]

The citizens of Pima county should Demand this man's resignation. Sheriff Dupnik corrupted his own crime scene by injecting his opinion in to this investigation! If Loughner wasn't influenced by talk radio or cable news he will be NOW once his defense Lawyer gets involved! Dupnik's comments will have tainted the jury pool procedures for this case. This man is suppose to be conducting an unbiased investigation of evidence. Not making unsubstantiated claims that caused more harm. He should resign immediately.

[gordon]

MA - America didn't have a tea party until we had a President who wanted to turn the country into socialist Europe and destroy the futures of our children. It has nothing to do with his skin color, but everything to do with him being a 60's radical totally out of touch with the majority of Americans. I would have thought this was obvious by now, especially after Nov 2. That is of course unless you really believe the vast majority of Americans are simply racists.

[bigmike]

There's a lot more to the story of Sherrif Nutjob, did you know that he thought that we should all buy guns to defend ourselves from the illegal aliens, until QUITE RECENTLY. He was hard line against wetbacks and for guns , all his freaking life , until mid 2009! Check AZ newspapers, what made him change his mind at 73 years of age?

[Tom]

The AP is reporting tonight that the the Pima County Sheriff's office visited the Laughner home at least once before Saturday's murders. Interesting the the Sheriff Dupnik failed to mention this on Saturday, Sunday, yesterday or today. Perhaps he was hoping no one would find out.

From the AP story:

Sheriff's deputies had been to the Loughner home at least once before the attack, spokesman said Jason Ogan said. He didn't know why or when the visit occurred, and said department lawyers were reviewing the paperwork and expected to release it Wednesday.

[Amarissa]

"The sheriff did, however, hand the upcoming legal defense some support by volunteering that the suspect was clearly unbalanced."

Exactly! I thought of that too when I heard him say it! All he has been doing is helping his legal defense!

You are the only one (among the dozens of articles I have read) who has written this very important fact.

Thank you

[RobLACa]

"The right wing are the American Taliban. In fact, they pose a more immediate threat."

These are the words of a hateful lying loser I prefer to call straight up traitors. Like the majority of his/her party of criminal frauds who fiend for power. All those attempting to deceive the American Public by agreeing with this incompetent unprofessional political hack/Sheriff are not only WRONG, you are the ones responsible for this divide in our Country. You are deliberately attempting divert attention from that fact. The fact that the party of democrats is a PERPETUAL FRAUD ran by the the rejected UN-AMERICAN liberal 20%'ers.

By all means continue deluding yourselves so more and more AMERICANS become familiar with the true enemy of this Country who caucus with the Communist Party USA, care more about the rights of foreign terrorists, illegal immigrants and criminals. I wonder if the party of democrats will include this monster in their fight to restore the voting rights of their 85% of felons who support them by allowing them to vote from their prison cells? Lets not forget how democrats shamelessly do their very best to deny the American Soldiers over seas their voting rights by intentionally refusing to send their ballots on time and making up any reason to deem them invalid.

This registered democratic AMERICAN looks forward to exposing all you Republican/Conservative/Libertarian/Independent (AMERICAN) haters, serial liars and criminal frauds who fiend for power, tax payer dollars who cannot win elections on merit or honesty.

[John Kelly]

What is it with the Sheriffs in Phoenix and Tucson? They seem to think they make law in addition to enforcing it. Maybe Arizona needs term limits. Once elected these old guys stick around as if it was a lifetime appointment. In California, thank God, our sheriffs stick to the business of keeping the peace and do not act like political pundits with views on everything from social criticism to foreign policy. Perhaps if the Sheriff was doing his proper job, the shooter would have been brought before a Judge and been given a psycological examination. It's not that the kid wasn't sending troubling signals to everybody around him.

[Alina Dominguez]

I am declaring Dopenik responsible for the crime.

[Lee]

Someone tells the truth and gets crucified. Sounds familiar.

[res08hao]

Dupnik. Time to retire I would think.

[Michael Kennedy]

Dupnik may have contaminated the jury pool but he was most concerned with covering up his negligence in refusing to take action in spite of numerous complaints about Loughner's threats and weird behavior. Callers were discouraged from filing formal complaints and were told he was "in the mental health system", a lie. All this may have something to do with the mother who is a county employee.

[lance_sjogren]

The next time Dupnik is up for re-election, a good challenger will be in the position of a kid in a candy store.

I expect a campaign slogan along these lines:

"Vote for xxx to restore professionalism to the Sheriff's office"

[lance_sjogren]

By the way, it is inappropriate in this article to refer to Dupnik as "the old guy".

First of all it is derogatory toward old people, and secondly there is no reason to believe mental deterioration due to old age is an explanation for Dupnik's conduct.

[lance_sjogren]

Barbara Taylor makes a good point that Sheriffs are elected and are thus politicians.

Obviously Tucson is politically left-of-center and apparently enough so to even elect a far-left extremist as Sheriff. After his recent conduct, however, I suspect that a strong majority of his constituents will disapprove of his performance in office.

[lance_sjogren]

Laura, great to see that list of inflammatory statements by Rush Limbaugh.

I never paid much attention to Limbaugh, but it appears those on the left have a good case that he has made some highly inappropriate comments.

You should also note that in recent days the attack on inflammatory rhetoric from the right has been met with responses in which people have pointed out a massive recent history of hateful and violent comments made by left-of-center journalists and progressive Democratic politicians.

All I ask is that those who believe that hateful and violent imagery in the media stumiates a climate that could lead to acts of political violence, please have the decency to acknowledge that there is every bit as much of such imagery coming from the left as from the right.

And from a pragmatic standpoint, you are going to find you have to do that if you wish to have credibility, because otherwise your campaign for civility will be (rightfully) viewed as a cheap political stunt in an attempt to exploit a tragic violent crime.

[Timmayy]

what an embarrassment you are to the people of Pima county and Tuscon, who will hopefully start a petition for you ouster

[bandit]

It's already been established the Sherriff's office had numerous complaints and contacts with the suspect and his family and that he had family members in the County gov't. Isn't the county sheriff's office also responsible for issuing gun permits?

[paul]

Anytime anyone uses the " race" card, they automatically lose their integrity.
Its ignorant, its irresponsible. This sheriff should be asked to resign.
His behavior has been unprofessional, and downright odd for someone in his position. (dementia?)
Many think its because he's on the defensive, and that may be.
Regarding what the Congresswoman could have done to avoid this disaster:
1) always notify local police, sheriff, fire dept. when and where they plan to speak so there's security
2) if those in Congress have concerns about what their co-workers are saying or doing -- speak to them directly or e-mail them concerning your concerns,
instead of politicizing it.

[Mustafa]

What a dufus Sheriff Dupnik is. He even went on national TV with a 3 week old dye-job on his hair! I bet when election time comes around, there 'gonna be a new sheriff in town :)

[James Q. Citizen]

I encourage the states attorney general, to do something to stop that sheriff Clarence Dupnik in Tucson, AZ. from speaking out his political beliefs and slanted personal views on camera and in the news, instead of doing his job investigating crimes to protect the citizens!

I am sure the as attorney general can issue a “gag order” on this out-of-line Sherriff because he is going to ruin any chances of that shooting suspect to get a fair trail, his purely personal opinions are tainting the jury pool and the sheriffs statements can be “used” by the defense.

It would be horrible if the personal views of this sheriff help give any lighter sentence to the perpetrator of this crime because they will be used by the defense!

[Mike]

Dear God do only idiots post here. I understand that the sheriff was probably emotionally charged when he made some of his statements and in a more rational moment would have been more professional But that still does not excuse them. The Tea Party is not about bigotry or hate. It is about out-of-control government spending and intrusion. And yes there is a genuine anger among the right in the abuse government has engendered on the American people. But all this said, Saturday's tragedy had nothing to do with any of it. The massacre of wonderful and innocent lives was the act of a mentally deranged individual who cared nothing for politics, Tea Party, illegal immigrants, or the like. To take his actions and correlate them like the sheriff did is irresponsible. It seems that people with an agenda will grasp at anything to prove their position. But it is shameful when a tragedy that includes the loss of human lives becomes the platform for some zealots diatribe when there is little or no valid connection. To the dear sheriff I say “shut up and worry about protecting your citizens and let the facts speak for themselves”.

[Patricio Vigil]

This clown is a perfect model for lunacy. He speaks before he has information. Then when he gets the CORRECT info he lies about it. He knew of the event and of previous threats but failed to plan for them. A law enforcement agency always plans for the unknown when intelligence is received. The sheriff has demonstrated his lack of planning and it cost lives. The man is so much in love with himself he has become blind by his love for himself. Time to step down you fool.

[dave talley]

Dupnik:
1. To attempt to use a tragedy or some other public event to score cheap and irrelevant political points against your opponents.
2. Former phrase “jumped the shark” is now obsolete. It will henceforth be “Dupniked”, as in “Uh Oh, I think I just Dupniked.”
3. Any absurdly stupid or transparently partisan statement.

Members of Congress can say for example “Let’s just step back for a moment…We don’t want to Dupnik here”

We should thank the sheriff for not only giving us a new word to use, but for forever preventing the Dem’s from playing this particular card again. Given especially that Sean Hannity and others have so correctly pointed out all of the hatred and outrageous statements that Dem’s made in the past, even including the one congressman who now calls for civility yet back in October said the Republican candidate for Florida Governor should … “be taken out and shot”

I love it

remember DON’T BE A DUPNIK!

DT

[Jim]

The point isn't what the sheriff said, It's the fact it wasn't his place as an police officer involved in the investigation. He has a right to express himself but wrong place and time. Got it Phillip

[Bella C]

First to comment on some inaccurate reporting, political figures can ask for security by local law enforcement. Off duty officers are called upon to do these type of tasks, however no request was made from the congresswoman's office unfortunately. If Dupnik would have sent deputies for security, the rhetoric would have been," he is utilizing county funds to secure his buddy or public corruption," Dupnik cannot utilize county resources to provide security unless the request is made and no direct threat was made on that figure that they knew of. Dupnik has no political motive geez the man is 75 years old he is near retirement. On the other hand no one seems to mind that Sheriff Babeau or Sheriff Arpaio spout their political agendas, at least what Dupnik had to say was the darn truth!

[Barry Hussein]

What it really comes down to, is that a horrific event occurred under the sheriff's watch, and he did nothing to prevent it. He should have acted like a professional, didn't and now he is casting his lot with those people he believes will watch his back. He is wrong, however because those same left wingers will throw him under the bus the first time he say or does something outside of their orthodoxy. It also won't matter because the good people of Tucson will toss him out of office at first opportunity.

[James Bangert]

Of course it's the Sherrifs fault. Coming from a group that supports charging rape victims for the cost of a rape kit, that means so very much. Funny how the teabaggers can dish out the hate speach, but when they get called on it, the first reaction isn't toward the victims. The first reaction is to cover thier heads, (nope, it's not a type) and whine about being called on it.