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Nanos discussed a range of topics, from the ongoing Guthrie investigation, to the revelations over his work history in El Paso and the recall effort against him that began last week, in a 45-minute sit-down interview with longtime Tucson host Bill Buckmaster and ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV columnist Tim Steller on KVOI AM 1030's Bill Buckmaster Show.

The Sheriff's Department is still working with the FBI, labs around the country and forensics examiners on "thousands (of hours) of video footage we still have to sort through," Nanos said of the investigation into Guthrie's apparent abduction. The retired University of Arizona communications professional, who is the mother of NBC "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Catalina Foothills home on Feb. 1. The department has sought security footage from neighbors, among other videos. 

“The case will get us there. We let the evidence show us the way, and that’s what we base everything on," Nanos said. "Right now, everything is speculative. We don’t have anything in front of us that says 'this is who did this, and this is why'.�

Nanos said the case is “unlike anything we’ve seen in years in Tucson,� the closest example being the kidnapping of Isabel Celis, who was 6 years old when she was taken from her bedroom in 2012.

“It took 10 years to get resolution on that. I hope that’s not the case here, but I hope also that the public and community understand that we are working it hard, and we are working it with some really good, quality teams,� Nanos said.

“I just can’t share everything, but I will tell you this: we have some DNA that we think is still workable, and we have to work that," the sheriff said. "And we know the science, and we know we have some labs around this country who are really working diligently to get there with this."

A breakthrough could happen at any time, but “the real breakthrough,� Nanos said, is that “somebody out there knows something, maybe somewhere, somebody’s going to say something.�

A tremendous amount of resources and time have been poured into the Guthrie investigation, but that has “absolutely not� affected the department’s ability to respond to other crimes or public safety concerns in Pima County, Nanos said.

While the department initially had hundreds of deputies search the area around Guthrie’s home, follow leads and track down information, work has now been consolidated into an investigative team of about 20, he said. “But we know that in a moment’s notice, if there’s something big that needs to be happening, we’ll dedicate the resources back in play.�

'Throw rocks at me, not my team'

Nanos has received criticism both locally and nationally for his handling of the Guthrie case, but he said he's glad it's been directed at him and not his deputies.

“I’m glad they throw rocks at me, not my team. Just do it, that’s OK,� Nanos said. “I told them, 'I’ll be your bad guy, I’ll be your villain.' (The public) took that literally. … Part of the problem is, in law enforcement, we know a lot more than you’ll ever know, but it’s for a reason. We know we have to get the help from our media and our community in solving some crimes, but that doesn’t mean we just share the whole case with you.�

Nanos faced national criticism, for example, for . Nanos explained to Buckmaster and Steller that he got the tickets weeks prior from his former dentist, and that he “just needed a break� due to family issues, as his brother died shortly after Guthrie's Feb. 1 disappearance.

“On the ... 2nd of February, I learned my brother was in the hospital. I believe three days later he passed away, and I just needed a break. I’m sorry,� Nanos said.

Work history, recall effort

 earlier this month found that Nanos misrepresented his work history, particularly about his time with the El Paso Police Department from 1976 to 1982.

The Republic reported that records show Nanos resigned in 1982, two years earlier than was originally stated on his public re�sume�, and also that the re�sume� did not disclose that Nanos had resigned in lieu of termination from the El Paso Police Department after disciplinary problems.

The Sheriff's Department described the re�sume� errors as administrative and unintentional. 

But the revelation has prompted severe criticism, in particular from Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz, who has scheduled a county board discussion Tuesday of the sheriff's work history because, Heinz told the Star, "he's been perpetrating a fraud upon the residents of Pima County for four decades." 

Also, Daniel Butierez, a candidate for U.S. Congress, who has launched an effort to recall Nanos from his post. Nanos and Heinz are both Democrats while Butierez is a Republican. 

In Friday's radio interview, Nanos described his time in the El Paso Police Department as a “very colorful career.�

“Those life experiences are what shape us, right? It's who we are,� he said. “I did all kinds of things there, but I also was a very young officer, the first 20-year-old. And as a kid back then, I didn't think of myself as a kid, but now looking back, I go, yeah … every piece of discipline I got, whether it's crashing a car or coming into work late, I can't argue with that. It was what it was. Was I insubordinate with the chief? All of those things may have been possible.�

Nanos told Buckmaster and Steller that Heinz is “the only person who does not take my phone call, who does not take a text, who does not answer an email."

“If you have something wrong with somebody, if I’m not happy with you, why wouldn’t I call you and tell you that? Matt Heinz has never, ever been to my office in the six years I’ve been there," Nanos said. "Why? I don’t know. I have no clue. We’ve talked two times.� He said once was at an event Heinz hosted shortly after he was elected, and the second during a county board meeting about body-worn cameras.

“Matt, sit down with me,� Nanos said in the radio interview. “Because if I don’t know what’s wrong, how do I fix it? Matt, if I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. Just share it with me.�

The Arizona Republic reported that in a December 2025 deposition, Nanos was asked if he'd ever been suspended, and he testified he had not. Nanos, on Friday, said he thought it was a question about his track record with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, not his career overall.

When asked by Steller about the recall effort, Nanos said nobody should be defined by their past.

"I’m going to summarize something somebody showed me the other day, and it was: ‘My past is what shapes me. It’s who I am today. Don’t hold me accountable to my past, look at who I am and what I’m doing in the future or today and forward.’ That was from Dan Butierez,� Nanos said. Butierez served nearly 13 years in prison on drug charges and had a stint living on the streets before getting sober.

“He, too, has a past, and good for him to go beyond that and put himself in a good way, in a good position," Nanos said. "But you know, it does work both ways. You're going to hold me to my past, then why wouldn't you hold yourself to yours? We all have pasts, but you don't live in your past. You learn from it, and you move on.

"I hope Dan's very proud of what he's become, I'm very proud of what I've become. I'm very proud of the things we've accomplished and that I've accomplished," Nanos said. “I have a very big heart for this community and (the Pima County Sheriff’s Department). This department gave me everything. They gave me a second chance. I hope I proved myself to this department."

Regarding the recall effort, Nanos said recalls are a good thing and a core part of the American process for the electorate, but that this one started for political reasons because his opponents “didn’t win the last two elections, and they’re just negative.�

“If this was the recall because the sheriff did something wrong, the sheriff is ineffective, whatever it is, then show us where we're wrong. If it’s a recall (because) crime is up, I’ve got stats to show that’s not the case, and they’re on our web page. Go look at them,� Nanos said. “Tell me where crime is up, Mr. Butierez, show me your data. Don’t just make statements, because that’s what we see. A lot of statements, a lot of negative commentary, but there’s no stats.�

Steller asked whether Nanos has a political base, an organized network of supporters. 

“No,� replied Nanos, saying he hopes his support comes from “the average Joe citizen.�

“I hope it’s not somebody who says ‘he’s a D, I’m voting for a D’� or somebody voting for him just because he’s not a Republican, Nanos said. “I hope it’s everybody.�