The Arizona sheriff leading the fruitless effort to find Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother received a unanimous “no confidence” vote from a large police union of his underlings, calling for his resignation.
The Pima County Deputy’s Organization (PCDO), which represents over 300 members, held the motion against Chris Nanos over his “extensive disciplinary history” as the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie entered its eighth week.
“(PCDO) has unanimously voted no confidence in Sheriff Chris Nanos and called for his resignation,” the Union said in a statement Monday morning.
The 70-year-old Democrat has come under fire for his leadership in the investigation into the alleged kidnapping of Guthrie from her Tucson home in the early hours of Feb. 1.
The PCDO did not list the Guthrie case as a reason for the “no confidence” vote despite Nanos being panned in recent weeks for his handling of the missing grandmother case.
He has been criticized for releasing Guthrie’s Catalina Foothills home as a crime scene too quickly in the early days of her disappearance, using a private DNA analysis company instead of working more closely with the FBI, and not deploying critical resources like a search plane or cadaver-sniffing dogs.
No suspects or a motive for the suspected abduction have been released.
The Union said the vote comes after scandalizing evidence from Nanos’ past was revealed, including poor actions as a police officer he kept secret for four decades.
“This action follows recent revelations about Nanos’ extensive disciplinary history with the El Paso Police Department, that he apparently failed to disclose to the department and the public for over 40 years,” the statement read.
Nanos had allegedly been suspended eight times for a total of 37 days while working with the EPPD between 1976 and 1982.
Nanos faced allegations of “excessive force, discharge of his firearm, illegal gambling, habitual tardiness, failure to report for duty, insubordination, making threats, dereliction of duty, improper use of a siren.”
The Pima County chief had faced termination in 1982, but he chose to resign, where “insubordination” and “consistent inefficiency” were listed as reasons for his departure, the union said.
The timeline of the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mom:
Nanos allegedly withheld the issues from his past when he applied for a correction officer position with the PCSD.
“These documented issues raise serious concerns about leadership fitness and set a troubling precedent for the department,” the PCDO argued. “Deputies cannot serve effectively under leadership with such a history of repeated disciplinary problems considering it is unlikely he would have been certified as a peace officer in Arizona if it was properly disclosed.
“How can a law enforcement officer be hired, trained and disciplined by someone whose history should have precluded them from ever being one in this state?” the union questioned.
The deputy union said the revelations have caused mismanagement, retaliation and eroded morale to spread within the PCSD, which could harm the community the department serves.
“Sheriff Chris Nanos should resign immediately to restore trust, accountability, and operational effectiveness to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. This would allow time for a special election where voters can make an informed decision about the future of our agency,” the union said.
Nanos was reelected to the sheriff’s post in November, edging out Republican challenger Heather Lappin 243,891 to 243,410, a 481-vote difference following a recount.
“Continued leadership under these circumstances jeopardizes public safety, departmental morale, and the credibility of law enforcement in Pima County,” the union said.
A recall effort against Nanos was launched last week by Republican congressional candidate Daniel Butierez.
Butierez, who is running for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District this November, said he is leading the charge against Nanos over both the Guthrie case and his conduct among rank-and-file Pima County police officers, he told The Post.
Nanos said he would “honor the will of the people,” if enough signatures were collected and he lost the recall vote.