Nancy Guthrie case sheriff faced allegations of excessive force, off-duty gambling early in his career, later quit the police force and fudged his resume

The law enforcement official leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is facing renewed scrutiny over details from his early policing career. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been asked to address discrepancies in his résumé and the circumstances surrounding his departure from his first law-enforcement job decades ago.

The controversy comes as authorities continue searching for Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home on February 1, 2026. Despite weeks of investigation, officials have not identified a suspect, drawing criticism over how the case has been handled.

Early policing career in El Paso

Chris Nanos began his law-enforcement career with the El Paso Police Department in Texas in 1976. According to reports citing historical disciplinary records, his tenure there ended in 1982 after he accumulated multiple infractions.

The reported violations included allegations of excessive force, off-duty gambling, misuse of a police siren, and repeated tardiness. One allegation claimed a suspect required hospitalization after being kicked during an arrest. The incidents reportedly resulted in 37 days of unpaid suspension.

Ultimately, Nanos was reportedly given the choice to resign or face termination, and he chose to step down from the department.

Resume discrepancy

Additional attention was drawn to the issue after it emerged that a résumé posted publicly listed Nanos’ employment with the El Paso Police Department as continuing until 1984, two years longer than official records indicate.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the incorrect dates and said they were clerical errors that have since been corrected.

When asked about the discrepancy, Nanos dismissed the criticism and suggested the scrutiny was exaggerated.

Nanos was elected Sheriff of Pima County in 2021 and has since been re-elected.

The renewed focus on Nanos’ past has come amid growing criticism of the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. The case has entered its fifth week without a suspect, prompting questions about investigative progress.

Some critics have pointed to inconsistent public statements from officials and concerns about how the scene of Guthrie’s disappearance was initially secured.

Reports suggested that individuals not connected to the investigation, including media personnel and delivery drivers, were able to approach the residence shortly after the incident.

Investigators have interviewed several persons of interest, but authorities say those individuals were cleared and no formal suspects have been identified so far.