Nancy Guthrie sheriff accused of lying, county supervisor ‘hopes he does right thing and resigns’
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is the subject of a recall effort based on allegations he lied on his resume and under oath about his past professional conduct.
- ❖A local reporter uncovered Nanos's personnel file from the El Paso Police Department, revealing eight suspensions totaling 37 days, including for police brutality and excessive force, leading to his forced resignation.
- ❖In a December 2023 deposition, Nanos allegedly committed perjury by denying he had ever received a suspension as a law enforcement officer.
- ❖The Pima County Deputies Organization unanimously passed a 'no confidence' vote against Sheriff Nanos, citing his loss of faith among his deputies and the community.
- ❖The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to investigate Nanos's conduct further and intends to question him under oath about these issues.
- ❖Supervisor Dr. Matt Hines stated that Nanos's alleged misconduct and abuse of power, including election interference against a political opponent, have disqualified him from retaining his position.
- ❖Critics suggest Nanos's past anti-FBI stance and alleged incompetence may have negatively impacted the Nancy Guthrie investigation, including decisions to remove the crime scene early and limit FBI involvement.
Insights
1Sheriff Nanos Accused of Perjury and Concealing Disciplinary History
Sheriff Chris Nanos is facing allegations of lying under oath about his past disciplinary record. A local reporter's investigation revealed Nanos's personnel file from the El Paso Police Department, showing eight suspensions totaling 37 days over five years. These suspensions included incidents of abusive language, tardiness, 'shots fired,' police brutality (bludgeoning a handcuffed suspect with a flashlight, leading to an ICU stay and civil lawsuit), insubordination, and consistent inefficiency, ultimately resulting in his forced resignation in lieu of termination. In a December 2023 deposition, Nanos was explicitly asked if he had ever received a suspension and reportedly answered 'no.'
Host Brian Entin details the reporter's findings and the deposition (, , , ). Supervisor Dr. Matt Hines confirms Nanos's denial of suspensions under oath and lists specific disciplinary actions from his El Paso record (, ).
2Unanimous 'No Confidence' Vote from Pima County Deputies
The Pima County Deputies Organization, representing approximately 300 deputies, conducted a vote on confidence in Sheriff Nanos. The result was a unanimous 'no confidence' vote, signaling a complete loss of faith from his own department. This is presented as unusual, even for union-management disputes, highlighting the severity of the deputies' concerns.
Host Brian Entin reports on the unanimous vote (). Sergeant Aaron Cross, President of the Pima County Deputies Organization, publicly confirmed the unanimous 'no confidence' verdict and called for Nanos's resignation ().
3Board of Supervisors to Question Sheriff Under Oath, Potential for Office Vacancy
The Pima County Board of Supervisors has taken formal action, voting unanimously to continue investigating the allegations against Sheriff Nanos and to question him under oath. Supervisor Dr. Matt Hines explained that if Nanos refuses to testify under oath or fails to provide truthful answers to questions about his official duties, a territorial era statute (ARS1-253) could allow the board to vacate his office after 10 days of non-responsiveness.
Host Brian Entin reports on the Board's unanimous vote (). Dr. Matt Hines details the board's intention to question Nanos under oath and the legal pathway to vacate the office (, ).
4Allegations of Election Interference and Abuse of Power
Supervisor Dr. Matt Hines accused Sheriff Nanos of abusing his office and county resources to interfere with the 2024 election. Hines stated that Nanos 'conspired with and used resources of your office to deprive your general election opponent, a Republican, of her First Amendment rights,' threatening and silencing her with a gag order during the campaign. This opponent, Heather Lapen, lost by only 481 votes, suggesting Nanos's actions may have corrupted the election outcome.
Dr. Matt Hines explicitly details Nanos's alleged actions against his opponent, Heather Lapen, and the impact on the election (, ).
5Sheriff's Past Anti-FBI Stance Linked to Guthrie Investigation Handling
Dr. Matt Hines suggested that Sheriff Nanos's documented anti-FBI sentiment from a 2015-2016 RICO investigation (which was dropped after a key witness's suicide) explained why Nanos allegedly limited the FBI's lead role in the Nancy Guthrie investigation. Hines noted Nanos's decision to send evidence to a third-party lab, claiming it was 'less expensive,' despite FBI services being free, causing frustration among FBI agents.
Dr. Matt Hines connects Nanos's 2015-2016 anti-FBI 'screed' to his reluctance to involve the FBI fully in the Guthrie case and his choice of a paid third-party lab over free FBI services (, ).
Lessons
- Pima County residents should monitor the Board of Supervisors' actions regarding Sheriff Nanos's sworn testimony and the ongoing recall effort to understand potential changes in local law enforcement leadership.
- Individuals interested in government accountability can research the legal processes for removing elected officials, such as recall elections and statutory provisions for vacating office, to understand their local governance.
- Citizens concerned about the integrity of law enforcement investigations, particularly high-profile cases like Nancy Guthrie's, should pay attention to how leadership changes or controversies might influence investigative progress and transparency.
Notable Moments
Pima County Deputies Organization issues unanimous 'no confidence' vote against Sheriff Nanos.
This unprecedented vote from Nanos's own department signifies a complete breakdown of trust and confidence among his deputies, indicating severe internal issues within the Pima County Sheriff's Office.
Pima County Board of Supervisors votes to question Sheriff Nanos under oath about his past and current conduct.
This formal action by the county's governing body escalates the pressure on Nanos and could lead to his removal from office if he is uncooperative or found to have committed perjury.
Supervisor Dr. Matt Hines accuses Sheriff Nanos of election interference against a political opponent.
These allegations suggest a serious abuse of power, potentially undermining democratic processes and raising questions about the fairness of past elections in Pima County.
Quotes
"Most petition signers only know of Sheriff Nanos from the embarrassing reports on national news excoriating him nightly for a pattern of amateurist missteps in the gruesome disappearance of Puma County resident Nancy Guthrie."
"This record, if properly disclosed, would have likely prevented him from being hired or for becoming a peace officer in the state of Arizona. For over 40 years, this has been concealed from the department and the voters of Puma County."
"He has lost the faith of his deputies and the community."
"I'm not used to having people hang on my every word and holding me accountable for the things that I say, which is not reassuring."
"He wouldn't be able to qualify for that based on what we've learned, especially based on the fact that we just found out that he committed perjury. It appears in a recent deposition."
"He was suspended eight times... some of it's like abusive language, tardy, shot fired, that was suspension one day. I wonder what that was about. Uh, brutality, that's troubling."
"He used his flashlight to bludgeon a handcuffed suspect. So, right, I mean, he's subdued. He's handcuffed, right? And he beat the guy so severely that about the head and neck that he went into the ICU and it precipitated a civil lawsuit against the police department."
"He was forced to resign in lieu of termination. None of that none of that came through."
"You conspired with and used resources of your office to deprive your general election opponent a Republican who I actually supported um of her first amendment rights. He he threatened her with her job. He he he intimidated her and silenced her."
"I'm standing up for the Constitution and I'm standing up against a bully and someone who's abusing their authority."
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