Sheriff Leading Nancy Guthrie Investigation Forced to Resign from First Police Job Over Misconduct

The Arizona sheriff overseeing the high-profile Nancy Guthrie disappearance case was forced to resign from his first law enforcement position in 1982 to avoid termination over a series of disciplinary infractions, including excessive force and off-duty gambling.

Sheriff Chris Nanos of Pima County, who is leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, resigned from his first policing job at the El Paso Police Department in 1982 to avoid being fired over a lengthy list of misconduct allegations.

The 84-year-old grandmother vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona on February 1, 2026, in what authorities believe was an abduction. The case has drawn national attention, with ransom demands totaling millions of dollars and emotional video pleas from the Guthrie family. As the investigation enters its second month with no major breakthroughs, scrutiny has now turned to the sheriff himself.

Documents obtained by The Arizona Republic reveal that Nanos accumulated 37 days of unpaid suspension during his six-year tenure with the El Paso police force. The infractions included allegations of excessive force, off-duty gambling, tardiness, failure to report for duty, and improper use of his siren. One particularly serious incident involved allegations that he kicked a robbery suspect in the head so severely that the victim required hospitalization.

The final straw came in 1982 when Nanos clashed with supervisors over whether patrol officers had the authority to confiscate fraudulent license plates. Records show he was given an ultimatum: resign or face termination for ‘insubordination’ and ‘consistent inefficiency.’ He chose resignation.

Adding to the controversy, Nanos’s publicly posted resume contained inaccuracies about his employment dates. The document stated he remained with the El Paso Police Department until 1984, two years longer than his actual service. When confronted about the discrepancy by reporters, Nanos responded dismissively: ‘That’s your urgent request? You sure you don’t want to go back to my high school and ask why I got swats from the principal? Good luck with your hit piece.’

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department acknowledged the resume errors, calling them ‘clerical mistakes’ that were ‘administrative in nature’ and not intended to mislead. The department has since corrected the resume, which now accurately reflects Nanos’s service with El Paso police from 1976 to 1982.

Despite the early career troubles, Nanos did receive recognition during his time in Texas. He was named Officer of the Year for the Western Region by the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas in 1980 after saving his partner’s life during a dangerous incident in 1979. His work as a police decoy to catch drug dealers and violent criminals was also commended.

After leaving El Paso, Nanos joined the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in 1984 as a corrections officer, starting over in a lower-ranking position. Over the following decades, he climbed through the ranks, eventually becoming sheriff in 2021 after winning two consecutive elections. He previously led the investigation into the 2011 shooting of Representative Gabby Giffords, which left six dead and 13 injured.

The Nancy Guthrie case has presented significant challenges for Nanos and his department. Critics have pointed to confusing and contradictory statements about the investigation, failure to properly secure the crime scene, and the lack of substantial progress despite extensive resources. The case involves multiple ransom notes demanding payment in cryptocurrency, with deadlines that have passed without resolution.

Investigators have released doorbell camera footage showing a masked, armed individual at Nancy Guthrie’s home around the time of her disappearance. The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery, and the FBI is offering an additional $50,000. Federal investigators are now examining whether internet service disruptions in the neighborhood that night were connected to the abduction.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department defended Nanos in a statement, emphasizing his four decades of law enforcement service and commitment to public safety. ‘Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to professionalism, accountability, and the safety of the communities he serves,’ the statement read.

As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues into its sixth week, the revelation about Nanos’s troubled start in law enforcement adds another layer of complexity to an already high-profile case. The 84-year-old woman’s condition and whereabouts remain unknown, while her daughter Savannah has suspended her broadcasting duties to focus on the search efforts.