Pima County Sheriff Nanos Suspends Challenger Lappin Amid Allegations of Potential Crimes

Sheriff Chris Nanos has placed his opponent in the sheriff’s race, Lt. Heather Lappin, on paid administrative leave due to potential criminal issues. Lappin, who has served 19 years in the Pima County Jail, was notified of her leave on Monday evening.

In addition to Lappin, Sgt. Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputy’s Organization, was also put on paid leave on the same day. Nanos indicated that Lappin’s situation does not pertain to election interference, whereas Cross’s circumstances do have some connection to the election.

“We received multiple complaints regarding Cross being out in uniform while off duty, which contributed to this decision. Lappin’s situation is distinct,” Nanos explained.

On Saturday, two or three individuals in tactical gear gathered at the intersection of Sabino Canyon and Tanque Verde roads, displaying signs that read, “Deputies Don’t Want Nanos.” This protest was later shared on Lappin’s campaign Facebook page.

An anonymous source familiar with the matter noted that the individuals were off-duty and did not present themselves as Pima County Sheriff’s Department members. As of late Monday, Lappin had not received a formal explanation regarding her leave.

Speculation suggests that the Pima County Sheriff’s Department believes Lappin may have known about the planned protest but did not intervene. However, this notion raises questions, since the deputies involved were reportedly on personal time and not in official uniforms.

The source implied that Nanos’s actions could be perceived as retaliation against Lappin for her decision to challenge him in the upcoming election. Nanos acknowledged the complexity of the situation but stood by his decision.

“I understand this is a delicate time, considering we’re less than three weeks from Election Day. While some issues can be set aside during campaign season, certain matters cannot be overlooked. I have a duty to ensure accountability, whether for criminal or internal matters,” Nanos stated.

He further noted that internal and criminal investigations are ongoing, and he hopes the outcomes will not reveal any criminal misconduct. “I hope there’s nothing serious, but we do have some internal matters to navigate, although they may turn out to be minor,” Nanos added.

Cross, who established the Pima County Deputy’s Organization in January 2023, has had numerous public confrontations with Nanos, who claims the organization is politically motivated and unwarrantedly intervenes in departmental matters.

Despite anticipating criticism for his decisions, Nanos defended the actions taken against Lappin and Cross. “I know what the critics will say. But accountability should not be mistaken for retaliation. If I fail to take action regarding these allegations, I would be derelict in my duties. While there’s no indication of guilt at this stage, we must proceed with due diligence,” he expressed.