Sheriff in Guthrie Case Ordered to Appear at Hearing

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is set to face a public hearing that could scrutinize more than just the ongoing investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. The county’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to require Nanos to appear, with outside legal counsel joining the review to examine his disciplinary history, allegations of perjury, and overall management of the sheriff’s office, according to Fox News.

Investigators are now entering the third month of searching for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, who vanished from her home on February 1 and is suspected of having been kidnapped. Although Nanos has not been implicated in her disappearance, the hearing is expected to touch on his professional record.

Documents included with the board’s agenda reveal that Nanos faced multiple suspensions while serving as a police officer in El Paso during the early 1980s and ultimately resigned rather than be fired. Critics note these details appear to contradict Nanos’s sworn deposition, in which he stated he had never been suspended. The Pima County Deputy’s Organization also claims he failed to disclose this history on his application. “He did not disclose that he resigned in lieu of termination,” the union wrote in a statement. “Lying on your application would prohibit anyone from being hired.”

Records obtained by the Arizona Republic indicate Nanos began his law enforcement career in El Paso, Texas, in 1976 and resigned in 1982, two years earlier than the sheriff department website currently lists. During that time, he earned recognition as Officer of the Year in western Texas for saving a partner’s life in 1979, but disciplinary problems emerged later. Nanos faced suspensions totaling 37 days, including a 15-day suspension in early 1982 after allegedly injuring a robbery suspect during an arrest. The suspect required intensive care, but a grand jury chose not to pursue assault charges. Other disciplinary actions involved failure to report for duty, lateness, and off-duty gambling.

The upcoming hearing comes after previous allegations that Nanos used his position to target political opponents during the 2024 sheriff’s race. These claims led the Board of Supervisors to request investigations from state and federal authorities. A date for the public hearing has not yet been announced.

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