Pima County Supervisors Seek Removal of Sheriff Chris Nanos Over Perjury Allegations

Pima County supervisors are calling for the resignation of Sheriff Chris Nanos, alleging he provided false testimony under oath regarding his prior law enforcement career. At least two members of the Board of Supervisors have indicated they will file a motion to vacate the sheriff’s office if Nanos does not step down by Tuesday.

The allegations stem from a deposition for an unrelated lawsuit where Nanos reportedly denied ever being suspended during his time as a police officer in El Paso, Texas, before joining the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in the 1980s. However, El Paso Police Department records show Nanos was suspended on several occasions for infractions including tardiness and "unnecessary violence." Supervisor Matt Heinz stated that the sheriff has lost the confidence of the community and failed to uphold the standards of his office.

An attorney representing Nanos said in a letter that the sheriff did not initially understand the deposition question because it pertained to an agency not governed by Arizona’s Peace Officer's Bill of Rights. The attorney noted that Nanos identified the misunderstanding while reviewing the transcript and promptly notified legal counsel to address the discrepancy.

The demand for Nanos to vacate his position comes as his department marks 100 days since the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie from her Tucson home. While FBI Director Kash Patel recently criticized the department for an alleged delay in seeking federal assistance, the sheriff’s department maintains that an FBI task force member was on-site the night Guthrie was reported missing. Supervisor Heinz clarified that the current effort to remove the sheriff is based on his disciplinary record and the perjury allegations rather than the status of the Guthrie investigation.