Pima County sheriff under review for removal

TUCSON, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA) - In Pima County, Arizona, supervisors are making preps to review answers from Sheriff Chris Nanos.

At least two supervisors say the document they have could lead to a move to vacate the office of the sheriff.

It's the latest chapter in a back-and-forth between supervisors and the sheriff, and at least two supervisors say the office of the sheriff in Pima County should be vacated.

The controversy follows the mysterious disappearance of Nancy Guthrie from her Tucson home, more than three months ago.

The answers to questions range from the time Sheriff Nanos spent with the El Paso Police Department to the work with ICE, and treatment of political opponents.

All of it goes under the microscope with the supervisors behind closed doors Tuesday, and now, days before the meeting, both Supervisors Matt Heinz and Steve Christy say they support any way to remove Nanos from the office, but not everyone on this board may feel that way.

"Does indeed open up the opportunity to take further action. That action is not something I can do alone...This is something the board will have to discuss," Supervisor Heinz expressed.

While Heinz and Christy support it, Supervisors Rex Scott and Andres Cano say they have no comment, and NBC affiliate KVOA did not hear back from Supervisor Jen Allen.

"This is really unprecedented stuff...no county officer has even been removed using this statute," Heinz remarked.

It's been on the books since the 1870s, before Arizona was a state. It lets supervisors require reports from county officers and potentially remove them for non-compliance, something Heinz says the sheriff did by not providing these under oath.

The sheriff's department says they "will respectfully wait for the board's decision before commenting on the matter."