Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz said Tuesday that Sheriff Chris Nanos’ 42-year history with the department “seems to be based on fraud.”
Shortly after Heinz’s statement, the board unanimously directed outside counsel to draft legal language requiring Nanos to provide reports under oath regarding his department. Non-compliance with the board’s order could result in Nanos being removed from office.
“I'm concerned about how (Nanos) can continue in his role… leading 1,500 hardworking men and women of the county sheriff's department,” Heinz said.
Nanos was not present at the board meeting.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said in an email to Arizona Public Media that Nanos will comply to provide a report to the board, once more direction is provided.
“Because this is a legal matter, the Sheriff is unable to comment any further on this matter,” the email said.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors spent nearly three hours in executive session discussing newly surfaced allegations regarding Sheriff Chris Nanos’ prior employment history, a development that coincides with an overwhelming vote of "no confidence" from the county’s deputies’ union.
The scrutiny follows reports of previously undisclosed disciplinary records from Nanos' tenure with the El Paso Police Department in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Nanos’ management of the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie is also drawing scrutiny.
Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of “TODAY” show host Savannah Guthrie. Investigators suspect she was taken from her Catalina Foothills home against her will during the early morning hours of February 1. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency handling the case and a suspect has yet to be publicly identified.
The Arizona Republic recently uncovered a record that includes allegations of Nanos beating a handcuffed suspect with a flashlight during his stint in El Paso, an incident that reportedly led to a suspension. Nanos was not indicted for the incident.
Sheriff’s history of discipline in El Paso
Records appearing to be from El Paso Police Department reveal a series of disciplinary actions against Nanos between 1977 and 1982.
The records were provided with the board’s March 24 addendum agenda, list numerous allegations, including gambling, insubordination, and excessive force, with several resulting in one-day or three-day suspensions. Democratic Supervisor Matt Heinz placed the item on the agenda.
The most significant entry, dated July 21, 1982, indicates that Nanos submitted a "resignation in lieu of termination" following allegations of insubordination and inefficiency.
Sgt. Aaron Cross alleged during the board meeting’s public comment period that this record has been concealed from Pima County voters and the department for more than 40 years.
Cross is the president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, a union that represents approximately 300 members.
“This record, if properly disclosed, would have likely prevented him from being hired or from becoming a peace officer in the state of Arizona,” Cross said.
#Allegations of Nanos’ political retaliation
These revelations come amid ongoing legal battles involving Nanos.
Lt. Heather Lappin, who challenged Nanos in the 2024 election and lost by a margin of 481 votes, filed a federal lawsuit alleging a "retaliatory campaign" intended to undermine her candidacy.
Lappin’s complaint details a string of disciplinary actions she claims were manufactured by department leadership after she announced her run for office. This includes a "punitive transfer" to the Pima County Jail and a highly publicized press release issued by Nanos just weeks before the election.
In that release, Nanos accused Lappin of "colluding with a journalist to facilitate payment to an inmate in exchange for a news story," an accusation Lappin and the involved publication, Arizona Luminaria, have both denied.
Cross also filed suit against the sheriff. Cross was placed on administrative leave in October 2024 after participating in an off-duty protest while holding a sign that read, "Deputies don't want Nanos.” PCSD leadership claimed Cross was "appearing equipped like a law enforcement officer" during the political activity.
According to Cross, the Pima County Deputies Organization voted unanimously to call for Nanos' immediate resignation.
"He has lost the faith of his deputies and the community," Cross told the board of supervisors. "His past renders him unfit to wear the badge.”
Heinz requested that the board hold an executive session Tuesday to seek legal advice regarding "reported issues concerning Sheriff Nanos’ work history and apparent related false statements."
In a December 2025 deposition supplied with the board agenda, Nanos acknowledged receiving discipline during his career, primarily for being what he described as a "not very good driver."
He denied ever receiving a discipline that rose to the level of a suspension. The newly surfaced El Paso records, however, appear to contradict that testimony.
Records list multiple incidents resulting in suspensions between 1977 and 1982. Specific entries appear to contradict Nanos’ testimony:
- July 3, 1979: A "shot fired" incident resulting in a "suspended 1 day" disposition
- July 9, 1979: "Off duty conduct (gambling)" resulting in a "suspended 1 day" disposition
- May 27, 1980: A violation for "failure to assist" resulting in a "suspended 10 days" disposition
- March 1, 1982: "Insubordination" resulting in a "1 day suspension" disposition
- March 2, 1982: "Inefficiency" resulting in a "3 day suspension" disposition
- June 4, 1982: "Habitual tardiness" resulting in a “two day suspension” disposition
. Recent reports from The Arizona Republic also prompted Nanos to amend his online resume after it was revealed he had misrepresented key details of his work history in El Paso.
While his original resume claimed he served with the El Paso Police Department until 1984 and had been promoted to the rank of detective, official records indicate he actually resigned in 1982.
The department has characterized these inaccuracies as "administrative" and "clerical errors," maintaining that the resume was not intended to mislead the public.
Nanos initially dismissed the investigations into his background as a "hit piece," but the department eventually corrected the dates on its website following the reports.
Despite the revisions, department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo stated that Nanos has demonstrated a "steadfast commitment to professionalism" throughout his four-decade career, and the department has declined to offer further information regarding his disciplinary history in El Paso.
