Has Gun, Will Travel : Duffy in Europe, But He’s Checking His Messages

San Diego County Sheriff John Duffy, recently criticized for taking so many trips out of town, is spending most of this month on what sources said is a European vacation.

An official in the Sheriff’s Department would only say that Duffy left Friday and is to return within “two or three weeks.”

Sgt. Jim Cooke, a department spokesman, declined to say where Duffy went, calling the trip a personal vacation.

But three sources familiar with the sheriff’s travel plans said Duffy is spending the entire month of September in Europe.

Department Closely Monitored

Cooke emphasized that Duffy, even while away, is closely monitoring the day-to-day business of his department.

“He checks in daily with his staff,” Cooke said. “He telephones his office for messages, and if there’s anything he needs to deal with, he’ll deal with it at that time. He’s kept up to date on what’s going on on a daily basis.”

The Times reported in July that Duffy took 16 trips during the first half of this year alone, and that he was away from the county for nearly a third of the workdays during that period.

The disclosure prompted the immediate announcement by former San Diego Police Chief Ray Hoobler that he will oppose Duffy for reelection next year, and has caused other potential candidates to consider a race against the longtime incumbent sheriff.

Duffy has also been chastised this year by the county grand jury for not properly managing and supervising his department.

Phone Contact Maintained

Duffy, in a July interview, said that, whenever he leaves San Diego, he always maintains close telephone contact with his office.

But in that same interview, and in written correspondence to The Times, he insisted that he has never taken personal vacation time since assuming the sheriff’s office in 1971.

“As an elected official, I receive an annual salary which compensates me for holding the position of sheriff,” he said. “I am not an employee of the department and I am not entitled to vacation, sick leave or any other form of personal leave. Whether I am in San Diego County or not, my status as the elected sheriff continues 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Duffy is vacationing with his wife, Lindy Duffy, a San Diego County probation director. According to probation records, she is not scheduled to return to work until Oct. 5.