Nancy Guthrie sheriff resigned from El Paso PD to avoid firing, report says
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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department updated Sheriff Chris Nanos’ public resume Tuesday after a local news report highlighted an error in his employment history following an unhappy breakup with his first employer in law enforcement.
According to public records, Nanos resigned rather than leave the El Paso Police Department in Texas in 1982. Republic of Arizona.
But his resume claimed he remained there until he joined Pima County as a corrections officer in 1984.
NANCY GUTHRIE’S SEARCH HAS ENTERED ITS 5TH WEEK, CADAVER DOGS HAVE BEEN STOPPED
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos provides an update on the investigation following the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, in Tucson, Arizona, on February 5, 2026. (Rebecca Noble/Reuters)
“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department recently identified two typographical errors in Sheriff Chris Nanos’ publicly released resume,” a department spokesman told reporters late Tuesday. “Both date discrepancies were administrative in nature and were not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos’ employment history.”
The statement did not address the report’s allegations that he left his job in El Paso to avoid being fired.
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“For clarity, Sheriff Nanos served with the El Paso Police Department from 1976 to 1982,” the spokesman added. “His tenure with the El Paso Police Department ended in 1982, not 1984 as previously stated. Additionally, Sheriff Nanos was promoted to the rank of captain in 2007, not 2009.”
Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing from her home in Arizona since February 1, 2026. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is leading the investigation. (Don Arnold/WireImage/Getty Images)
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According to the report, Nanos served as bait to trap drug dealers and robbers. However, he left in 1982 amid allegations of “insubordination” and “consistent inefficiency”.
Over the course of six years, he reportedly received a 37-day suspension for allegations of excessive use of force, off-duty gambling, and arriving late to work or missing shifts entirely.
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Savannah Guthrie and her mother Nancy Guthrie. (Instagram/Savannah Guthrie)
Near the end of his time in El Paso, he received a 15-day suspension for allegedly sending a suspected robber to the intensive care unit after kicking him in the head during an arrest, according to police records included in the report.
The Republic also published an emailed response to its reporter’s questions attributed to Nanos, after reportedly declining to comment on the error.
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“Is this your ‘urgent’ request? Are you sure you don’t want to go back to my high school and ask why I took revenge on the principal?” reader. “Good luck with your hit piece.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks at a news conference in Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, to provide updates on the disappearance of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie. (Sejal Govindarao/AP Photo)
Nanos is in charge of the investigation into the suspected kidnapping of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
He was outraged over his initial handling of the crime scene, alleged disagreements with the FBI over the bureau’s involvement in the case and subsequent laboratory testing, conflicting testimony given at different points in the case, and Guthrie’s attendance at an Arizona Wildcats NCAA game while his adult children filmed a reaction to his potential kidnapper.
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Pima County Sheriffs participated in a law enforcement operation at the intersection of Camino de Michael and East Orange Grove Road Tucson, Arizona on Friday, February 13, 2026. The location is about two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home. (DWS for Fox News Digital) (DWS for Fox News Digital)
He has been missing since February 1. Nanos held three press conferences that week, the last on February 5. None have been done since then.
In the second session held on February 3, he touched upon the intense interest shown by the media in the case.
“I’m not used to everyone taking my word for it and then trying to hold me responsible for what I said,” he told reporters.
More than five weeks after his disappearance, authorities have not publicly identified any suspect, person of interest or any vehicle that may be linked to the crime.
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A total reward of more than $1.2 million will be offered for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
