Retired SWAT commander blasts sheriff over Nancy Guthrie probe

Claims officers previously questioned Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos' leadership

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A retired SWAT commander from the Pima County Sheriff's Office has criticized Sheriff Chris Nanos' handling of the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of 'Today' co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. The former lieutenant, Bob Krygier, claimed that 98% of the department gave a vote of no confidence in Nanos' leadership a few years ago, and accused the sheriff of poor communication skills and a failure to address the department's low morale.

Why it matters

The Nancy Guthrie case has drawn national attention, and the criticism from a high-ranking former officer raises questions about the leadership and morale within the Pima County Sheriff's Office as they continue the search. This could undermine public confidence in the investigation and the department's ability to effectively handle high-profile cases.

The details

According to the report, Krygier, who spent nearly 30 years with the Pima County Sheriff's Office, said Nanos often gets 'wrapped up in his thoughts' and 'emotional' when delivering messages to the public. Krygier claimed Nanos disregarded the results of a morale poll a couple years ago that showed 98% of the department's roughly 450 commissioned officers gave a vote of no confidence in the sheriff's leadership. Krygier said Nanos should have followed up with the unions to ask how he could improve the department, rather than ignoring the troubling poll results.

  • Nancy Guthrie has been missing since February 1, 2026.
  • The morale poll Krygier referenced took place a couple years ago.

The players

Bob Krygier

A former lieutenant and SWAT commander who spent nearly 30 years with the Pima County Sheriff's Office.

Chris Nanos

The current Pima County Sheriff, who has faced criticism over his handling of the Nancy Guthrie investigation.

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of 'Today' co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing since February 1, 2026.

Savannah Guthrie

The co-anchor of the 'Today' show, who is the daughter of the missing Nancy Guthrie.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We did a morale poll a couple years ago – 98% of the department gave a vote of no confidence to the sheriff for various reasons.”

— Bob Krygier, Former SWAT commander (Surviving The Survivor podcast)

“He is not the best one to deliver those messages most times. He gets wrapped up in his thoughts, he gets emotional. Even if he's not getting pushback, he sometimes just repeats himself over and over.”

— Bob Krygier, Former SWAT commander (Surviving The Survivor podcast)

What’s next

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has not yet responded to the claims made by the former SWAT commander. The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is ongoing, and authorities have said they are 'definitely closer' to finding a suspect or suspects.

The takeaway

The criticism from a high-ranking former officer raises serious questions about the leadership and morale within the Pima County Sheriff's Office, which could undermine public confidence in their ability to effectively handle the high-profile Nancy Guthrie investigation. This case highlights the importance of strong, transparent, and accountable law enforcement leadership, especially in sensitive cases that draw national attention.