Tom Agnos Explained

Tom Agnos
Office:35th Sheriff of Maricopa County
Predecessor:Richard Godbehere[1]
Successor:Joe Arpaio
Term Start:1988
Term End:1993
Party:Republican
Birth Name:Thomas J. Agnos[2]
Birth Date:1936
Birth Place:Lima, Ohio, U.S.
Death Date: (aged 68)[3]
Death Place:Sun City West, Arizona, U.S.
Death Cause:Self-inflicted gunshot wound
Spouse:Shirley Agnos
Allegiance: United States
Education:Phoenix College
Alma Mater:Arizona State University

Tom Agnos[3] (1936 – December 20, 2004[2]) was an American law enforcement officer known for his time as the sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona.

Early life

Agnos was born in Lima, Ohio, in 1936,[2] and had served in the United States Air Force for some time prior to moving to Arizona in 1961 to join the Phoenix Police Department.[2] Agnos would go on to serve as Phoenix Police's assistant chief prior to winning a term as the Maricopa County Sheriff in 1988.[3]

Tenure as Maricopa County Sheriff

During his tenure as sheriff, Agnos instated 100% pay for employees who were hurt on the job, a practice that was later adopted by other agencies.[1]

Controversy

Agnos was at the center of controversy following the Waddell Buddhist temple shooting.[1] In the aftermath of the shooting, MCSO deputies arrested five men from Tucson, Arizona based on a tip from a psychiatric patient.[4]

It was later discovered that the men were coerced into confessing,[3] with investigators extracting false confessions by exaggerating evidence, badgering them with leading questions, and threatening the death penalty.[5]

One of the five men arrested was freed after he provided an alibi, but the other four, dubbed by the media as the "Tucson Four", remained in custody even though no physical evidence linked them to the crime.[4] Charges were eventually dismissed, and their innocence was established in late 1991 when two men were found to be the suspects responsible.[5]

Members of the Tucson Four later filed lawsuits against Maricopa County, and in 1994, two of the people who sued received $1.1 million each, while another received $240,000.[6] The investigation was criticized by the Maricopa County Attorney, as well as Arizona's Senator Dennis DeConcini.[7]

For his part, Agnos said he believed the arrests were justified, and that the confessions were worthy of murder charges. Publicity generated by Agnos' handling of the temple shooting led to his defeat by Joe Arpaio in the November 1992 general election.[5]

Death

Agnos died on December 20, 2004, at his home in Sun City West.[3] It was reported at the time that Agnos died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but Agnos' wife said he had been battling terminal cancer.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: The top lawmen of Maricopa County: A history of the county's sheriffs . August 15, 2020 . . January 3, 2017.
  2. Web site: Thomas J. Agnos . . August 15, 2020 . January 2, 2005.
  3. News: Smith . Kim . Ex-sheriff Agnos commits suicide . August 16, 2020 . . December 21, 2004.
  4. Web site: Innocent Until Interrogated . . August 16, 2020.
  5. News: Sahagun . Louis . Arizona Murder Probes Put Wrong Men Behind Bars : Crime: Experts say the interrogation techniques used show how the innocent can be pushed into confessions. . August 15, 2020 . . February 13, 1993.
  6. News: Hermann . William . Valley Buddhist temple massacre has had lasting impact . August 16, 2020 . . August 14, 2011.
  7. News: Martin . Philip . The Sheriff's Suspects . August 15, 2020 . . December 11, 1991.