A lawyer representing Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is disputing news reports that his client resigned from his previous law enforcement job because he faced possible termination.
The lawyer, James Cool, disputes the characterization of a document included in a trove of records that The Arizona Republic published on April 21st from Nanos’ time working for the El Paso Police Department. A report from a disciplinary hearing states that a five-member board recommended Nanos be terminated for a 1982 incident in which he clashed with his sergeant over department policy on confiscating temporary license plates.
The report goes on to state, “Officer Christopher G. Nanos resigned in lieu of termination.”
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In a letter to the Arizona Daily Star, Cool wrote that the El Paso police document is “demonstrably inaccurate.”
Cool cites employment verification records from Joseph Messer, then El Paso’s acting police chief, when Nanos was hired by Pima County in 1984 to work as a corrections officer.
“Although it mentions his suspensions, the form tellingly does not state Sheriff Nanos resigned 'in lieu of termination.' That is no accident nor oversight,” Cool wrote.
Messer’s employment verification form for Nanos states “Resigned” under Reason for Termination.
The form goes on to say Messer would not recommend Nanos for employment or consider rehiring him after his performance deteriorated in the last few months of his time with El Paso. Before that, Messer wrote, Nanos was “always above standards,” earning an Officer of the Year Award for saving his partner’s life.
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“Officer Nanos has all the potentials and abilities to do his work. He needs to mature and be a responsible person,” Messer wrote on March 20, 1984.
Cool does not dispute the findings of El Paso's disciplinary review board that recommended Nanos’ termination, but instead emphasizes that boards provide recommendations that can be approved, modified or denied. The final decision was left to the police chief.
“Rather, the Chief proposed a three-day suspension and Sheriff Nanos resigned rather than serve the suspension,” Cool wrote.
News stories published by The Arizona Republic about Nanos' work history in El Paso prompted the Pima County Board of Supervisors to request a sworn statement from Nanos addressing his work history and the suspension of two employees during the 2024 election.
After one supervisor’s attempt to remove him from office failed, the remaining board members voted earlier this week to refer perjury allegations to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Those allegations stem from a deposition Nanos gave in a lawsuit filed by one of those suspended employees, Sgt. Aaron Cross, a union leader in the department.
