<\/p>\n
Sheriff Duke Schirard, in a debate Tuesday morning, sought to refute domestic-violence allegations that have roiled the sheriff\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never been guilty of any domestic violence,\u201d he said. \u201cI want the ladies in particular in this community to know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheriff\u2019s Office reports show deputies were called to domestic disturbances at Schirard\u2019s house in 1989 and 1990.<\/p>\n
Schirard did not deny those reports, but he did dispute the account of Durango police Sgt. Geary Parsons, who told The Durango Herald in a recent article that he was called to Schirard\u2019s house in 1984 or 1985, and saw Schirard\u2019s ex-wife with blackened eyes.<\/p>\n
Parsons said his superiors prevented him from arresting Schirard. There is no record of the incident. Schirard read email messages from his two sons and ex-wife denying the incident occurred.<\/p>\n
Schirard\u2019s comments came at Tuesday morning\u2019s Eggs & Issues debate hosted by the Durango Chamber of Commerce at the DoubleTree Hotel.<\/p>\n
The domestic-violence allegations \u2013 paired with Schirard\u2019s own admission that he paid a visit to Durango police Chief Jim Spratlen to silence Parsons \u2013 have stirred a typically sleepy local election. In 2010, Schirard was unopposed in earning his fifth term. One of Schirard\u2019s subordinates, Deputy Sean Smith, is challenging the sheriff for his job this time.<\/p>\n
Smith said it\u2019s time for a change.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe (Schirard) had passion and drive when he came to this office,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe it\u2019s gone now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schirard pointed to the La Plata County Sheriff\u2019s Office\u2019s \u201cexcellence of service\u201d during his 20 years as sheriff. \u201cTell me one time we haven\u2019t met your needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Smith steered away from addressing the domestic-violence allegations against Schirard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not what I\u2019m about,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you go look at my website, if you go look at my Facebook page, I\u2019m about my community. I have been all along. I want to win this race on the merits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith spent some of the debate time disputing characterizations of himself as a liberal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never said we\u2019re going to put deputies in Toyota Priuses,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith said the Sheriff\u2019s Office does have Toyota Highlander hybrid SUVs that have proved valuable for some uses. The Highlanders are not used for patrol, he said.<\/p>\n
Smith said the personal nature of the race has been disappointing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son has been approached at Durango High School and told I\u2019m going to take guns away from his friends,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just been ridiculous, so I really hope we can get back to a focus on what\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both candidates said they would continue issuing concealed-weapons permits according to state law.<\/p>\n