The three Republican candidates vying to become Pima County’s next sheriff all seem to agree on one thing: Democratic Sheriff Chris Nanos’ leadership has led to a negative view of justice in law enforcement and created a toxic work culture in the department.
Republican candidates Heather Lappin, Bill Phillips and Terry Frederick all believe that the department needs comprehensive changes to restore its public reputation and improve the quality of its leadership.
“The last three years and more have been horrific,” said Lappin, a prison commander. “They’ve eliminated any sense of internal procedural fairness in our department. Veterans with five to 15 years of service who have the institutional knowledge, training and certifications are leaving the department because the culture is very toxic.”
Lappin, who has worked in various positions at the Sheriff’s Department over the past 19 years, said that while she has not been treated badly over the years, she has recently seen some of the most intelligent people being treated with bias.
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“When we lose our humility and get ahead of ourselves, when we think we don’t have to answer to people, that’s when we get into trouble. And that’s what’s happening,” Lappin said of the department’s current state, which led her to prioritize “restoring the integrity of the sheriff’s office.”
“They make decisions based on ego, power and self-promotion. It’s not about the people.”
Lappin began her career in October 2004 when she was hired as a deputy sheriff after working in the jail’s records department. She was promoted to sergeant in April 2015 and lieutenant in May 2019.
Lappin has held numerous leadership positions during her career, including directing training programs and serving as commander of the South and Southwest Sides and Green Valley.
During the election campaign, Lappin has been criticized for her handling of finances, among other things. She filed for bankruptcy in 2011 after her husband became unemployed. Lappin said the criticism came from both Democrats and Republicans, and that she was told she should be proud of it.
Phillips served with the sheriff’s department for 31 years until his retirement in 2022. He said negativity in the department, as well as declining public support for law enforcement, prompted him to run for sheriff.
“There’s a dark cloud hanging over the department,” Phillips said. “We need to regain respect for the deputies. Everyone is focused on the negative, and because of that, no one is paying attention to the positive things that are happening.”
Based on his experience with the Marines and IBM, Phillips was hired as a prison officer in 1990. He was promoted to deputy in 1992. He was a member of the SWAT team in his first year.
“The Sheriff’s Department has taken a leadership role in Southern Arizona,” Phillips said. “We lead the regional SWAT team, the negotiation team and the bomb unit. So we’ve always taken a strong leadership role in Pima County. It’s been a great experience (and) a great department.”
Phillips is a Tucson native. His father was a retired Navy and Air Force veteran and his mother was an elementary school teacher.
“We need to get back to supporting our law enforcement officers so they can do their jobs proactively. That’s what I want to do,” Phillips said. “Instead of just reacting when something has happened, we need to go out and look for crimes.”
Frederick, a former vice chairman of the department, often speaks of “five major incidents and counting” during Nanos’ tenure.
“I saw the department deteriorating and several deputies – former, retired and current – contacted me and asked me to run,” Frederick said. “I decided to take this step because of the problems that were occurring.”
Among the issues he cited is the appointment of a deputy chief by Nanos, who is not an officer and was embroiled in controversy for impersonating an officer when he stopped a person for reckless driving in 2022.
“I plan to hold all commanders accountable,” Frederick said. “To me, this oath means that you hold everyone equally accountable. I believe that the law, when enforced, is the same for everyone.”
Frederick, who was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and ran for sheriff in 2012 and lost, has more than 35 years of experience in law enforcement. In addition to his work as a former deputy sheriff, he operated a private investigative agency.
candidate priorities
For Lappin, improving the prison is a top priority.
Combating substance abuse and mental health issues among the prison population is critical, Lappin said, since two-thirds of inmates take psychiatric drugs. She also talks about prison funding, addressing the issue of medical denials and the need for better health care resources.
Lappin also talks about her son’s struggle with addiction.
“My son’s addiction literally almost killed me. It was probably the worst thing that ever happened to me in my life,” Lappin said, mourning her son’s five-year battle with drug addiction. “Drug addiction affects so many people and when we share a vulnerability, it helps people open up and heal themselves.”
Lappin’s priorities also include family safety, budget transparency and taxpayer protection, and improved training and retention of sheriff’s deputies.
Among Phillips’ priorities is “common sense immigration enforcement,” and he says Nanos and the Santa Cruz County sheriff will “stay out” of border-related issues.
Phillips says border cartel crime and human trafficking are impacting Pima County.
“If you transport a young girl for prostitution or labor, we will arrest you and charge you with state crimes and serious crimes against children and put you in jail,” Phillips said. “We will not hand you over to the Border Patrol where you will be slapped on the hands and sat back down so you can come back.”
Phillips also said he would focus on animal cruelty and revitalize a task force dedicated to the issue. As a deputy and sergeant, Phillips was involved in a strong task force against animal cruelty and said he is passionate about caring for animals.
Phillips also said he wants to focus on the more rural areas of the county to bring more attention to crimes such as drug smuggling, human trafficking and animal fighting. In addition, he wants to focus on fraud cases targeting seniors, develop a strong reserve deputy program and operate with greater transparency.
“It is my duty to expose the agency and let taxpayers know what the department is spending their money on,” he said.
Candidates discuss leadership qualities
In terms of leadership, it’s important to create a work environment and culture where people aren’t afraid to make mistakes, Lappin said. It’s about acknowledging mistakes, learning from them and improving, she said.
In order to create the most constructive working and learning environment possible, Lappin says she is also very good at gathering people around her who have different opinions than her and who provide her with the necessary headwind.
“My leadership talent is people. I can motivate people, I’m very good at making people want to be better,” said Lappin, who, if she wins, could be the first female sheriff not only in Pima County but in all of Arizona.
It is equally important to support MPs, Phillips said. If his officials make mistakes, Phillips said, he must stand by them, be transparent with the public and admit their failings.
“As far as leadership goes, I think the most important thing is to support people, have their backs and expect professional behavior from them,” Phillips said. “With people, you have to understand what their strengths are and put them in positions where they can use those strengths.”
For Frederick, integrity and respect are crucial to being a good leader. He said knowledge of the law and its implementation, listening and absorbing information, and community involvement are key characteristics of a good leader.
He said people in positions of power, including the highest elected official, are responsible for establishing a culture in the department.
“I don’t reject anything, I’m very approachable and non-judgmental,” Frederick said of his strengths as a leader. “If there’s a problem, let’s find a solution to solve it.”
