Clarence Dupnik
Encyclopedia
Clarence William Dupnik is an American
law enforcement
official. Dupnik was appointed Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona
, in February 1980 to fill a vacancy rising from the resignation of his predecessor, Richard Boykin. He won election in his own right in September 1980, and has been re-elected every four years since. Dupnik is a member of the Democratic
party.
, and grew up in Bisbee, Arizona
. He attended the University of Arizona
in Tucson. He graduated from polygraph
training school Keeler Institute in Chicago, the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville
, and the Urban Affairs Executive Institute at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. He joined the Tucson Police Department
in 1958, as a Patrol Officer, eventually rising to Major in charge of Field Operations. In 1977 he was appointed Chief Deputy with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, and in 1980 he was appointed Sheriff. He was elected seven times to four-year terms as Sheriff.
Because Pima County shares a border with Mexico
, Dupnik's office handles a wide range of illegal immigration
and drug trafficking matters.
Dupnik also won the contest to name the Tucson Toros
baseball team.
On June 22, 2011, Dupnik announced he would be dedicating about 20 officers to a task force to jail people for letting off fireworks on the 4th of July.
In September 2010, Dupnik criticized the Tea Party movement
at an immigration forum, publicly claiming the movement was associated with bigotry.
, Dupnik stated that he had not seen evidence linking the shooting to discussions in the media, but believed the issue had to be raised. Representative Trent Franks
stated "I'm especially disappointed in the sheriff because we were looking to him for straight facts and he politicized this. I don't want to be unkind but I was disappointed."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
official. Dupnik was appointed Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, in February 1980 to fill a vacancy rising from the resignation of his predecessor, Richard Boykin. He won election in his own right in September 1980, and has been re-elected every four years since. Dupnik is a member of the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
party.
Life and career
Dupnik was born in Helena, TexasHelena, Texas
Helena is a ghost town in Texas located approximately southeast of San Antonio in Karnes County. The seat of Karnes County from 1854 to 1894, Helena was once known as the self-proclaimed "toughest town on earth" in the mid-19th century...
, and grew up in Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, 82 miles southeast of Tucson. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,177...
. He attended the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in Tucson. He graduated from polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
training school Keeler Institute in Chicago, the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, and the Urban Affairs Executive Institute at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. He joined the Tucson Police Department
Tucson Police Department
The Tucson Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Tucson, Arizona. TPD has a total 932 police officers compared to 960 in the 1990s. Tucson Police has suffered a great amount of budget cuts and federal funding...
in 1958, as a Patrol Officer, eventually rising to Major in charge of Field Operations. In 1977 he was appointed Chief Deputy with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, and in 1980 he was appointed Sheriff. He was elected seven times to four-year terms as Sheriff.
Because Pima County shares a border with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Dupnik's office handles a wide range of illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
and drug trafficking matters.
Dupnik also won the contest to name the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
baseball team.
On June 22, 2011, Dupnik announced he would be dedicating about 20 officers to a task force to jail people for letting off fireworks on the 4th of July.
Political views
Dupnik was a vocal opponent of Arizona's anti-illegal immigrant bill SB 1070. In April 2010, Dupnik used drastic language to criticize the law, calling it "racist," "disgusting" and "stupid" as well as unessential.In September 2010, Dupnik criticized the Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
at an immigration forum, publicly claiming the movement was associated with bigotry.
2011 Tucson shootings
Dupnik's office was responsible for security and later oversaw local response and investigation of the 2011 Tucson shootings. Dupnik stated that he felt that the level of vitriol in political discourse created an atmosphere where violence was likely. "It's not unusual for all public officials to get threats constantly, myself included. That's the sad thing about what's going on in America: pretty soon we're not going to be able to find reasonable, decent people willing to subject themselves to serve in public office." Conservatives criticized Dupnik's comments as misplaced and uninformed. In an interview with Fox News' Megyn KellyMegyn Kelly
Megyn Marie Kelly , formerly known as Megyn Kendall, is an American journalist and news anchor employed by the Fox News Channel. Kelly currently hosts America Live from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST live from the network’s New York City headquarters...
, Dupnik stated that he had not seen evidence linking the shooting to discussions in the media, but believed the issue had to be raised. Representative Trent Franks
Trent Franks
Trent Franks is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district takes in the entire northwestern corner of the state, including Kingman and Lake Havasu City, but most of its vote is cast in the western Phoenix suburbs.-Early life, education and...
stated "I'm especially disappointed in the sheriff because we were looking to him for straight facts and he politicized this. I don't want to be unkind but I was disappointed."
External links
- Clarence Dupnik profile via Pima County Sheriff's Department