Pima County Deputy Administrator Burke Accused Of Delaying Investigation Of Nanos Bullying
Notes made by Pima County Employment Rights Compliance Officer Mike Tully as part of his investigation of bullying claims against Sheriff Chris Nanos reveal that Deputy County Administrator Tom Burke used County resources to influence an election. The notes were obtained by victim, Sgt. Kevin Kubitskey, as part of a records request.
Although Tully’s report was clearly completed months ago, the County ignored Kubitskey’s records request. It wasn’t until Kubitskey filed a lawsuit to secure the documents that the County finally turned them over.
Administrative Investigation 16V-01 Case Notes Kevin Kubitskey (Sheriff’s Deputy) vs. Chris Nanos (Sheriff) – Alleged Workplace Violence (forceful touching)
On September 6, 2016 Tully noted: Report from meeting with Cory Dent, Allyn Bulzomi, Wendy Peterson: Dep. County Administrator Tom Burke requested transcripts of investigator’s notes. Per Ms. Dent, Mr. Burke admitted to Ms. Peterson that he is trying to delay the investigation until after the election.
Tully had come forward to complain of Burke’s interference after Burke rejected Tully’s finding that Nanos had bullied Kubitskey. Burke claimed that the investigation was not conducted in a neutral fashion. In a memo dated October 17, Burke wrote to Human Resources Director Allyn Bulzomi that he believed that Tully asked “leading questions” and took some statements out of context.
In an interview with KGUN 9 News reporter, Valerie Cavasos, Tully criticized Burke’s memo. He said that Burke’s “gratuitous and irresponsible and inaccurate shot” at him and the apparent effort to impugn his reputation was a “situation I can’t tolerate. I can’t sit still for that and that’s why I came forward,” Tully told Cavasos.
As for the Burke’s complaint about leading questions, Tully told Cavasos that investigators can ask them. “If a witness gives an answer that I don’t fully understand I might rephrase it and say are you trying to say this — so I’ll ask leading questions not to suggest the answer, but to understand the answer,” stated Tully.