The Arizona sheriff under fire for failing to find Nancy Guthrie may lose his job after county officials move to oust him over accusations of perjury.
The move comes as the search for Nancy Guthrie, 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, hits its 90th day on Friday.
At least two members of the Pima County Board of Supervisors will file a motion to vacate the sheriff’s office if embattled Sheriff Chris Nanos doesn’t step down by Tuesday, the two officials told Fox News.
The supervisors claimed Nanos lied under oath about his record as a cop in El Paso before joining the sheriff’s department in the 1980s, covering up suspensions that ultimately forced him to resign in lieu of termination.
Critics have blasted Nanos for alleged missteps in the search for Nancy Guthrie or the kidnapper who snatched her from her home on February 1.
Despite weeks of claiming to have strong DNA evidence and other promising leads, the sheriff’s department has yet to identify a suspect or make a viable arrest.
“This is accountability for a guy who has evaded accountability for decades and is himself a public safety threat,” Dr. Matt Heinz, a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, told Fox.
Nanos had worked for the El Paso Police Department busting drug dealers and muggers, but he resigned in 1982 in lieu of termination following multiple suspensions due to “insubordination” and “consistent inefficiency,” according to records obtained by the Arizona Republic.
His misconduct included excessive use of force, off-duty gambling and coming to work late or missing shifts, the outlet reported.
But during a sworn deposition in December, Nanos was asked whether he had ever been suspended during his law enforcement career and answered “no.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement regarding “clerical errors” in Nanos’ resume in March, but they involved the timing of his move to Arizona; the statement made no mention of his past suspensions.
