Jim Duffy, who worked 31 years in law enforcement and ran for county sheriff, dies at 62 – San Diego Union-Tribune

Jim Duffy, who served in law enforcement for 31 years and made an unsuccessful bid for the job of San Diego County's top attorney — a position his father had held — died June 1 in an Oceanside care facility after a long illness. He was 62 years old.

Duffy is credited with leading the effort to fund and create a memorial for county deputies, officers and constables who died in the line of duty. The outdoor memorial at the county administrative center sits on a granite base and features names engraved on glass panels.

Duffy grew up in San Diego County, where his father, John Duffy, served as sheriff from 1971 to 1991. He joined the police scout program at age 14 and enrolled in the police academy at 18 years old. Calipatria in Imperial County.

He then worked at the Carlsbad Police Department for five years before joining the Sheriff's Department in 1986.

“The sheriff’s department was my father’s life,” said his oldest son, James Duffy. “In his house, sheriff stickers and magnets were everywhere.”

He was elected president of the Deputy Sheriffs Association in 2004. In 2008, he took a leave of absence to work as chief of staff for County Supervisor Ron Roberts. Duffy thought it would be a good experience before running for sheriff. He and Jay LaSuer, a former undersheriff and state Assembly member, lost the 2010 election to Bill Gore, who was appointed sheriff a year earlier after then-sheriff retired, Bill Kolender.

As Roberts' top aide, Duffy helped the former supervisor understand the sheriff's department and its needs, and was good at getting things done. “I really liked him, to say the least,” Roberts said. “It was a surprise to me when I got this message the other day that he had passed away…I imagine him young, smiling and sort of a good friend who could work things out.”

Duffy, who borrowed money on his house to finance his campaign, never regretted running for elected office, his son and friends said.

“He grew up in the sheriff’s department, with Grandpa John as sheriff,” James Duffy said. “He loved it and he knew he had to run for sheriff…We want to be as good as our fathers, or better.” And for him, he had to at least try.

Duffy retired in 2011, hanging up his badge for good. After retiring, the twice-divorced father of three focused on being a father to son James and daughter Ashley from his first marriage, now in his 40s, and his youngest son, Ethan, who is now 20 years old.

“He was a very good father,” remembers James Duffy. “He was getting close to retirement, and it wasn't like, 'It's time to go play and travel the world.' It was just 'take Ethan to school and continue being a dad.'

Duffy bought a camper van and loved taking her kids on trips. “He loved camping – camping was his whole thing, he took us everywhere,” his son said. “When we were driving to go camping, he was excited and happy.”

Five years after his retirement, Duffy was diagnosed with dementia. The disease took its toll.

James remembers going to an appointment with his father and the doctor explaining to him what was coming next regarding his father's health. He felt overwhelmed – and his father came up to him and hugged him. “He never said 'woe is me,'” James said. “He was just stoic. He was more worried about our emotions than his own.

Due to the progression of his illness, the family wonders whether he suffered from Lewy body dementia, which causes physical disorders as well as cognitive symptoms, rather than Alzheimer's disease. Tests are being done on the brain tissue to determine if that was the case, his son said.

James Duffy noted that his father, grandfather and uncle all died at the age of 62 – all from different causes. The former sheriff died of a heart attack in El Salvador, while Jim Duffy's brother John suffered a stroke. “They were all the same age,” he said. “(It’s) so weird.”

Those who worked with Duffy on the DSA board said he left his mark.

“He was extremely dedicated to ensuring that deputies' working conditions, salaries, benefits and rights were protected,” former DSA President Ernie Carrillo said in an email. “He grew up in the department and loved it to the end.”

James said he was renovating his father's Fallbrook home, which was once a barn and included space he used as a woodworking shop. He said his father was skilled in carpentry and electricity. “When I’m there, I feel it,” he said.