As the search for missing Nancy Guthrie continues, attention turns to the man leading the investigation. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is currently under investigation over allegations that he misrepresented details on his resume before taking office.
The controversy surfaced after a March report in The Arizona Republic cited records showing discrepancies in his employment history. Nanos addressed the issue in a filing through his attorney with the Pima County Board of Supervisors earlier this week.
The development comes at a critical time, as Guthrie has been missing since February 1 and Nanos continues to oversee the search.
Officials gave no indication that the investigation affected the investigation.
Who is Chris Nanos?
Chris Nanos is the elected sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, and currently leads law enforcement operations in the area, including the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie.
He began his police career in the 1970s with the El Paso, Texas Police Department. His tenure at the company, which is currently under re-examination, included multiple disciplinary actions before resigning in the early 1980s.
Nanos later continued his law enforcement career in Arizona, eventually rising through the ranks in Pima County. He went on to hold senior positions, including captain, before eventually being elected Sheriff.
Despite an ongoing investigation into discrepancies in his past and resume, Nanos remained on the job and continues to lead the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance.
Investigations into his background and missing persons case are ongoing.
What are the charges against him?
The charges against Nanos are largely related to his early law enforcement career in Texas. Records reviewed by The Arizona Republic show that he was suspended eight times while working for the El Paso Police Department from 1976 to 1982, resulting in 37 days of absence from work.
The suspension was related to multiple charges, including use of force, illegal gambling, insubordination, habitual tardiness, wrongful arrest and dereliction of duty.
Further scrutiny came from claims that Nanos resigned from the department in 1982 to avoid being fired, although his resume indicated that he remained there until 1984.
Another discrepancy is his promotion to captain in Pima County, which his resume shows as 2007, while official records show it as 2009.
In response to these questions, a Pima County spokesperson said: “Both date discrepancies are administrative in nature and are not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos’ employment history.”
Nanos’ attorney, James Kuhl, also defended him, saying: “Whatever the Sheriff did or did not do prior to his election must have been irrelevant to the performance of his duties.”
