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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, is facing calls to resign after a “no confidence” vote from a union representing sheriff's deputies.
The Pima County Deputy’s Organization (PCDO), which represents more than 300 deputies in the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, announced on Monday that its members had “unanimously" passed a no-confidence vote.
PCDO "has unanimously voted no confidence in Sheriff Chris Nanos and called for his resignation,” the organization said in a statement on Monday. “This action follows recent revelations about Nanos' extensive disciplinary history with the El Paso Police Department, that he apparently failed to disclose to the department and the public for over 40 years.”
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Newsweek has contacted Nanos for comment via an email to the sheriff's department sent outside regular business hours.
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The Context
It’s the latest blow for Nanos, who has repeatedly come under scrutiny as the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, continues for an eighth week. Critics have accused Nanos of making several mistakes early in the investigation and he is also facing a recall effort.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home outside Tucson, Arizona, on January 31 and reported missing the next day. Authorities believe she was kidnapped, and said drops of blood were found on her front porch.
What To Know
The vote is a "resounding rejection" of Nanos' leadership, the PCDO said in its statement.
It called for Nanos to "resign immediately to restore trust, accountability, and operation effectiveness" to the sheriff's department, saying that doing so would allow time for a special election "where voters can make an informed decision about he future of our agency."
The Arizona Republic had reported that Nanos had resigned in lieu of termination from the El Paso Police Department in Texas in 1982—two years earlier than he indicated on his publicly posted resume.
Nanos, who started his law enforcement career in 1976, resigned to avoid being terminated following a lengthy list of disciplinary issues, including insubordination, excessive force, off-duty gambling and tardiness, according to documents cited by the outlet.
The sheriff's department later said the errors on Nanos' resume had been corrected.
"The Pima County Sheriff's Department recently identified two clerical errors in Sheriff Chris Nanos' publicly posted resume. Both date discrepancies were administrative in nature and were not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos' work history," the department said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Pima County supervisors moved to compel Nanos to answer their questions under oath. According to Arizona Public Media, the board voted unanimously to direct an attorney to draft questions under a state law that would compel the sheriff to provide reports regarding his department, with non-compliance providing a path for Nanos to be removed from his position.
A spokesperson for the sheriff's department told Arizona Public Media that Nanos will comply once more direction is provided.
Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz said on Tuesday that Nanos' 42 years with the sheriff's department appears to be "based on fraud."
Heinz previously told Newsweek that the board "can compel any county officer to make a report under oath, and if the officer refuses to comply then the board can vote to vacate the seat after 10 days of noncompliance."
He added that the "territorial era law is largely untested and there is very limited case law to reference."
What People Are Saying
The Pima County Deputy’s Organization said in a statement: "The PCDO calls for Sheriff Nanos [to] step down without delay. Continued leadership under these circumstances jeopardizes public safety, department morale, and the credibility of law enforcement in Pima County. The organization urges the Pima County Board of Supervisors, elected officials, and the community to support this call for resignation and demand swift, meaningful change."
Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz previously told Newsweek that Nanos "has betrayed the trust that our community placed in him. Without that trust, he cannot effectively lead the department."
The Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a statement on March 10: "Sheriff Nanos has dedicated more than four decades to law enforcement and public service. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to professionalism, accountability, and the safety of the communities he serves. As Sheriff of Pima County, he continues to lead the department with experience, integrity, and a clear focus on protecting the residents of Pima County."
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos defended his department's handling of the Nancy Guthrie case in an interview with KVOA on Monday, saying: "Look, I have no regrets about my team and their efforts. I don't regret we let the crime scene go to soon or any of that, that's just silly.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen if Nanos will resign under pressure.
Meanwhile, authorities and Nancy Guthrie's family continue to urge anyone with information about her disappearance to come forward.
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