Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos updated his online resume after a media report that he misrepresented his work history.
The Arizona Republic reported Monday that Nanos had a mixed record with the police department in his hometown of El Paso–earning recognition early on–but resigning in 1982 in lieu of being fired.
His resume originally claimed Nanos stayed with the El Paso Police Department until 1984, when he moved to Tucson.
Nanos also said he was promoted to detective in El Paso, which was not confirmed by records obtained by the Republic. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement Tuesday,, that the resume was “not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos' work history.”
The scrutiny comes as Nanos draws national attention for leading the investigation into the case of Nancy Guthrie, who went missing more than five weeks ago.
While his publicly posted resume previously stated he worked there until 1984, records obtained by the Republic show he actually resigned in 1982 “in lieu of termination” following a series of disciplinary issues.
According to internal affairs records, Nanos faced 26 allegations over a five-year period in El Paso, including alleged use of excessive force, a shot fired, off-duty gambling, and making threats.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has characterized the inaccuracies as “administrative” and “clerical errors” that were not intended to mislead the public.
Nanos did not address the disciplinary history with the El Paso Police Department. In an email to Arizona Public Media on Tuesday afternoon, department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo stated there was no additional information to share beyond the department's initial statement.
Sheriff Nanos initially dismissed inquiries into his background, labeling the reporting a “hit piece” before the department eventually corrected the dates on the website.
Despite the revisions, the department maintained that Nanos has demonstrated a “steadfast commitment to professionalism” throughout his four-decade career in public service.
AZPM News reporter Katya Mendoza sits down with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos at the Clarence W. Dupnik Sheriff's Complex in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 to discuss the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
