A sergeant with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department who also is head of the deputies’ union has filed an aggravated assault complaint against Sheriff Chris Nanos.
Sgt. Kevin Kubitskey told Tucson police that he was assaulted by Nanos at about 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 26, according to a police report obtained by the Star through a public records request.
Because Kubitskey is a member of law enforcement, the incident is classified as aggravated assault on a peace officer, a felony.
The report, which was filed March 7, does not go into detail about the incident, which occurred at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge. The Tucson Police Department only released a report that had a brief narrative, which indicated more information was on additional reports that were not released.
The Star previously reported Nanos held a meeting Feb. 26 with the labor groups representing deputies, sergeants and corrections officers, to address any concerns leading into the upcoming sheriff’s election.
It’s unclear from the police report if the altercation had anything to do with the meeting, but the alleged assault occurred at the same location.
Kubitskey, who is the president of the Pima County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, was not injured during the incident, the report says.
“It’s an ongoing investigation so I can’t comment about it at this time,” Kubitskey said, when contacted by the Star.
Nanos wouldn’t comment on the specifics of the situation, but said that several people witnessed what happened and the findings of the investigation will prove he did nothing wrong.
“I have to question (Kubitskey’s) motivation in this,” Nanos said. “He’s filed complaint after complaint against me, to internal affairs, to (Pima County) human resources and to the FBI. I think it’s all politically motivated.”
Since last summer, Kubitskey has been at the front of the deputy association’s efforts to receive increases in salary, or “step increases,” that employees were promised years ago.
Nanos previously said that since September, when Kubitskey took over as union president, “things have fallen apart” in regards to discussions over pay.
The status of Tucson police’s investigation was not known Thursday, but the Pima County Attorney’s Office said it has not received the case.
On Thursday night, members of the Fraternal Order of Police and the deputies’ union interviewed potential candidates for the upcoming sheriff’s election, according to an email sent to members.
For the first time in years, it appears the unions are prepared to endorse a candidate to challenge the sitting sheriff. It’s expected that Nanos, who is completing the term of retired Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, will run for the office.
Dale Monroe, Mark Napier and Luis Pimber answered questions from union members in an informal interview.
Monroe is a University of Arizona graduate who worked as an FBI agent from 1985 to 2012, spending some of his time in Phoenix. He was involved in the standoff with Randy Weaver and several others at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992. Since he left the FBI, he’s worked as a firearms instructor and security consultant. Currently a California resident, Monroe is also a captain in the state’s military reserve.
Napier, a retired captain with the Tucson Police Department, lost to Dupnik in the 2012 election. He also made an unsuccessful run for Oro Valley Town Council in 2012.
Pimber is a former UA Police officer, who was injured in a 2003 raid in conjunction with TPD. He sued Tucson Police and the officer who injured him, but the case was dismissed by the state Court of Appeals. He also worked as an undercover member of an Office of National Drug Control task force.
Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. On Twitter: @caitlincschmidt. Follow her on Facebook.