Vasquez: If it’s plagiarism, I’m sorry

Early in my career, I learned that law enforcement was more than just arresting criminals and putting them in jail. I developed a deep desire to touch peoples’ lives.

Pinal sheriff plagiarizes in monthly letters

PDF: Read Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski's Oct. 1, 2004, speech on meth epidemic

PDF: Read Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez's Sept., 2005, speech on meth posted on Vasquez4Sheriff.com

I always looked for ways to somehow take a bad situation and make their life better, even if I couldn’t solve the crime.

When putting together the monthly letters to the citizens, my desire remained the same: to touch the lives of whoever read them. The letters covered many topics, such as domestic violence, methamphetamine use, identity theft, bullying and gangs. I have made it no secret on how I put together the letters. I have had citizens ask me how I can do this with such a busy schedule, so I have told them.

I am not an expert on some of the topics, so I would research the Internet so I could provide the best information. Sometimes I would read a passage and simply rewrite it in my words. Because what I read was fresh in my mind, the passage and what I wrote were similar. Sometimes I simply would cut and paste the passage into my document. In a letter there may be several paragraphs I would cut and paste or just one.

I will admit that in a few of the letters the majority of the information was cut and pasted from different sources. Also, there may be a few where the majority of the information came from one source. I simply felt the reader would really benefit by how the information was written and that I couldn’t rewrite it in any other way without taking away from the message.

Recently an article was printed in the East Valley Tribune saying what I did was plagiarism. The meaning of plagiarism, as I understood it, was when a person took the work of someone else in order to gain something, such as money or a good grade. I did not at the time feel I had anything to gain by these letters. I don’t receive compensation for them. I simply do this as a service to the citizens of Pinal County.

It is not my intent to deceive anyone. My only intent is to educate and touch peoples’ lives. Hopefully, to save a life.

If by the definition through the letters I committed plagiarism, then I apologize to all who are offended. I apologize to you, the readers. I apologize to those in the writing field, as this is a subject very close to your hearts. I made a mistake. Because I don’t want to offend anyone else, I have requested all the articles be removed from my Web site.

This mistake doesn’t define the man I am, nor should it take away from the many positive accomplishments I have made in my career, especially as sheriff. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is better now than it ever has been.

For the first time in a long time, the sheriff’s office is becoming a proactive law enforcement agency with deputies catching armed robbers, burglars and thieves. My criminal investigation bureau is solving major crimes within 48-hours after the crime is committed. These are just a few examples of many positive things that are occurring under my direction.

In closing, if the letters touched someone and made them feel better about themselves; if a wife was able to seek the courage to leave an abusive relationship, or a parent was able to recognize their child was on meth, then I have no regrets. The letters accomplished their intent — the delivery of a meaningful message.

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Chris Vasquez is sheriff of Pinal County.