Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos Faces Recall Amid Guthrie Case and Scrutiny

Sheriff under pressure as recall effort begins following missing case controversy, union backlash, and reports of record low morale.

Kelly McBride Ni

Published: 3/19/2026, 4:47:51 AM EDT

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos Faces Recall Amid Guthrie Case and Scrutiny — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos exits the press room past a missing persons poster after giving an update on the investigation after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie, in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 5, 2026. (Rebecca Noble/Reuters)

A recall effort has been launched against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, according to election documents filed with county officials. Nanos gained national attention after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie.

On March 12, an application for a recall petition serial number was submitted to the Pima County Elections Department, triggering a 120‑day window for organizers to gather at least 122,211 valid signatures to qualify a recall measure for the ballot.

Daniel Butierez is listed as the applicant for the recall. Butierez, a Republican candidate for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, who has previously run for the seat, has said Nanos has lost public trust and should resign.

On March 18, Butierez posted a video in Spanish and English seeking volunteers to collect recall signatures.

According to 13 News, Nanos said the sheriff’s office is aware of the recall. “It’s the right of the people. We’ll always honor the will of the people, and that’s what makes Democracy,” he said.

The effort comes as Nanos faces intense public and internal criticism over his department’s handling of the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who vanished from her Tucson-area home on Feb. 1 and remains missing. No suspects have been charged.

Sgt. Aaron Cross, president of the PCDO, has criticized Nanos’ handling of the Guthrie investigation, but says problems in the sheriff’s office predate the case.

In a Feb. 27 interview with the podcast DutyRon, Cross said morale within the Pima County Sheriff’s Office is at “record low” and described a wave of deputies leaving the department after Nanos won reelection.

Nanos has served as Pima County sheriff since January 2021, after previously serving as an appointee from August 2015 through 2016. He was reelected in November 2024 for a new term beginning in January 2025. Nanos began his career with the department in 1984, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.

Cross, a 26-year Pima County veteran, also cited ongoing staffing issues, noting that some deputies on probation are serving as supervisors. He said staff often feel unsupported by leadership and face discipline for arbitrary reasons. He likened the department to a “farm league” where rookies are trained and quickly leave for other agencies.

Retired NYPD detective, DutyRon pointed to crime data showing more than 5,750 home burglaries reported in Pima County since early 2020, during Nanos’ tenure as sheriff.

According to Arizona Crime Statistics, reported burglary cases have averaged well over 1,000 per year in Pima County since 2017, with 2017 reporting the most and 2025 reporting the fewest.

Arizona law allows voters to file a recall against any public officer for any reason, but only after the official has served at least six months of their first term. The exception is for state legislators, who become eligible for recall five days after their first legislative session begins.

Once a recall application is approved, organizers have 120 days to collect signatures equal to 25 percent of the votes cast in the last election for that office.

NTD reached out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office for comment but had not received a response by publication time.