Sheriff Nanos gets vote of 'no confidence' from deputy group

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has received a “nearly unanimous” vote of no confidence from a union representing deputies that cited “years of frustration at the lack of competent leadership and mismanagement.”

In a post Tuesday afternoon on its Facebook page, the Pima County Deputy’s Organization says the no-confidence vote against Nanos passed by 98.8% among the 86 deputies of the more than 200 eligible members who responded to the poll. Only one deputy who responded rejected the no-confidence vote, according to Sgt. Aaron Cross, the union’s president. Many deputies said they chose not to participate in the poll over concern about retribution, Cross said in a written statement.

The Pima County Deputy’s Organization was established in 2023, according to a news release posted Tuesday on Facebook.

Nanos said Wednesday afternoon that he does not believe PCDO’s claim of representing “over half of all deputies” is accurate and that the group lacks dues-paying members.

In September 2023, the organization accused Nanos of delaying an internal investigation related to a former sergeant’s alleged sexual assault of a deputy during a Christmas party in 2022. The female deputy alleged that her lieutenant, captain and chief knew of the assault but that Nanos put an internal review of the way the incident was handled “on hold.”

The Pima County Board of Supervisors’ request for an outside agency’s efforts were eventually approved, twice. In November, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes accepted the request, saying her agency will “conduct a complete criminal investigation” into the alleged actions taken by Nanos.

After the allegations were made, Nanos said an internal investigation into the alleged misconduct could have interfered in the criminal case, a claim the union says has “purposefully confused the public in statements.”

“In February of 2023, we relayed to Sheriff Nanos, who cited low morale as a reason he ran for sheriff, a department morale poll of our members, which showed it to be near rock-bottom,” the union says. Nanos ignored the polls, “and responded with his usual management method: retaliation to force silence.”

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Among others, the group accused Nanos of creating a “get out jail free card” due to a new procedure at the Pima County jail.

“Sheriff Nanos and his hand-picked team of senior commanders have created a toxic culture of incompetence and retaliation. Day by day it weakens our beloved agency and undermines our ability to serve our community in an effective manner,” the union says. “Until (change) happens, experienced deputies will continue to leave, criminals will continue to roam our streets, the public will continue to be underserved and inmates under our care will continue to be at risk.”

Nanos denies the claims made by the union.

“I don’t think it exists and I don’t know that they can’t prove that it exists,” he said. “In 2021, I told all four organizations and the Fraternal Order of the Police … I told them all, I’m not going to seek their endorsement, that’s not what this is about. If I do my job and I support my team, then I would hope they support me. And I believe that’s very evident.”

Nanos claims the “only reason this group exists” is because of failed attempts to get the other unions to “go against me, and the other four said they wouldn’t.” Nanos cited regular pay raises and better staffing for support from other employee groups.

Nanos says the department has more than 1,500 employees. The department has 400 deputies and 67 sergeants, according to a PCSD official.

“I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to provide for good work environment, provide for better pay for my staff, and more importantly, provide for safety for my community,” Nanos said. “That’s what the voters expect for me, that’s what I’ve given them.”