Pima County supervisors fail to oust sheriff amid perjury allegations
The Pima County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a bid to remove Sheriff Chris Nanos from office. The move followed allegations that Nanos lied under oath about his police record. The board voted 4-0 to refer the perjury allegations to the Arizona attorney general’s office, with one member abstaining.
During the meeting, Republican Supervisor Steve Christy proposed declaring the sheriff’s office vacant and beginning the process to replace Nanos. His motion failed for lack of a second. Democrat Rex Scott then moved to refer the perjury claims, citing concerns about Nanos’s leadership and the lack of trust within the sheriff’s department, including a no-confidence vote from the deputies’ organization.
The controversy centers on claims that Nanos misrepresented his disciplinary history as a Texas police officer in the 1970s and 1980s. Records obtained by the Arizona Republic show he was suspended multiple times and resigned in lieu of termination. Nanos has denied misconduct during his time with the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, stating he was never suspended during his tenure here.
Legal and procedural hurdles complicate removal efforts, as Nanos is an elected official. Supervisors have pointed to an 1800s law as a possible avenue for removal. Even without removing him, the board could pass a resolution expressing no confidence or refer the allegations for criminal investigation.
Nanos’s attorney issued a statement asserting that the controversy stems from misunderstandings and that the sheriff’s testimony was accurate regarding his Arizona career. The attorney noted Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982 rather than accept a suspension, but critics argue that resignation in lieu of discipline implies misconduct. The sheriff declined to answer questions under oath in person, submitting a notarized statement instead.
The case has also drawn attention due to the ongoing investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, which has now stretched past 100 days. The case involves her daughter, ‘Today’ co-host Savannah Guthrie, and has led to tensions between Nanos and federal authorities. The Guthrie family continues to offer more than $1.2 million in rewards for information.
Source: Original Article
