Arizona Sheriff Leading Guthrie Search Misstated Work History

Records show Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos resigned from El Paso Police in 1982, not 1984 as stated on his resume.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 3:12pm

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Documents obtained by The Arizona Republic revealed that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the search for Nancy Guthrie, resigned in lieu of termination from the El Paso Police Department in 1982 - two years earlier than he indicates on his public resume. Nanos had a history of disciplinary issues including insubordination, excessive force, off-duty gambling and tardiness during his time at the El Paso department.

Why it matters

Nanos' employment history has come under scrutiny as he oversees the high-profile search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. Questions about Nanos' past could undermine public trust in the investigation and his leadership.

The details

According to records, Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982 to avoid being terminated following a lengthy list of disciplinary issues. This contradicts his public resume, which states he worked at the department until 1984. Nanos had been suspended or placed on leave without pay for a total of 37 days during his time at the El Paso department, with infractions including alleged use of excessive force, off-duty gambling, tardiness and failure to report for duty.

  • Nanos started his law enforcement career in 1976.
  • Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982, two years earlier than he indicates on his resume.
  • Nanos started working as a corrections officer for the Pima County Sheriff's Department in 1984.

The players

Chris Nanos

The Pima County Sheriff leading the search for Nancy Guthrie, whose employment history has come under scrutiny.

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, who has been reported missing since February 1.

Savannah Guthrie

The host of the Today show, whose mother Nancy Guthrie has been reported missing.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff

“I'm not used to everybody hanging on my words and then trying to hold me accountable for what I say.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff

What’s next

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has not yet commented on the discrepancies in Nanos' employment history. It remains to be seen if this revelation will impact the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie.

The takeaway

The questions surrounding Sheriff Nanos' past disciplinary issues and employment history raise concerns about his credibility and leadership in the high-profile search for Nancy Guthrie. Transparency and accountability are crucial for maintaining public trust in law enforcement, especially in sensitive missing persons cases.