Sheriff Chris Nanos joined the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) this summer. With decades of service and as current Sheriff of Pima County (AZ), Sheriff Nanos brings unique experience and perspectives to leading a diverse border community. In this interview, Sheriff Nanos reflects on how his career has shaped his leadership. 

The sheriff’s responses have been edited for length and clarity.  

You have led the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for years and have worked in nearly every division throughout your career. How have the various experiences shaped your leadership approach and philosophy on public safety? 

Coming into this position with a well-rounded background, I would hope, serves me well in making the day-to-day decisions required of this office. Whether it be a patrol incident, a criminal investigation, or a personnel matter, having the ability to look at various problems from different angles has been a great privilege and I am grateful for the valuable experiences. I also know the importance of surrounding myself with a diverse leadership team that provides different perspectives and oftentimes helps me avoid some of the drawbacks along the way. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department encourages participation from all walks of life. We value different perspectives and understand that no one person has all the answers. 

 Having grown up in El Paso, Texas, and now serving in Pima County, Arizona, how have your personal and regional roots influenced the way you approach building trust with the community? 

As a young 20-year-old police officer in El Paso, Texas, I quickly learned this job was too tough to do on my own. It required community policing long before the term “community policing” was ever thought of. We need the eyes and ears of our citizens if we are to be effective in keeping communities safe. Simply responding to calls for service is not enough. We need to be engaged in community policing programs that impact the lives of community members. At times a warrior is needed, however, it is guardianship that ultimately builds that trust and relationship so desperately needed in our communities.  

The immigrant population within Pima County is a huge part of who we are as a community. Whether it be working with the Catholic diocese in providing identification cards or communicating with volunteer groups that assist migrants such as Humane Borders and The Good Samaritans, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department understands the importance of building trust with those we serve. Pima County hosts a number of refugee groups from around the world. Maintaining a good working relationship with these groups has also proven to be invaluable. 

Being near the border brings unique responsibilities and perspectives. How do you address public safety and what priorities guide your work? 

In today’s law enforcement environment, everyone struggles with finding the right number of resources to accomplish our missions. We all serve in various federal and state task forces with an aim to become more efficient and better serve our communities. Through collaboration we not only share critical information that serves to keep us safe, but such efforts also save taxpayer dollars and reduce duplicative efforts.  

Yet, when it comes to public safety, we all have unique roles that require unique training and unique approaches in the way we do our jobs. So, it is those we serve that set the priorities. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department serves a community of over one million people in an area of responsibility that covers over 9,300 square miles. Our county shares the longest linear border with Mexico, longer than any other county in the nation. Along that 126-mile border sits several small rural communities. These communities are served by a 911 communications section that handles over 200,000 calls a year and yet less than 2% of our call load occurs along the Mexican border.  

Our real priorities are in crime prevention, and we cannot prevent crime if we are not engaged in our future, the youth of our community. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has a very robust School Resource Officer program that is involved in working with our schools by providing a safe learning environment and helping to mentor our students. Tracking the success of such programs may be difficult; however, we know that if our kids do not graduate from high school, they stand a 70% greater chance of being in our jails. Although safety at our schools is critical, it is through our mentorship where we really make a difference and build trust one contact at a time.  

How do you balance the responsibilities of local law enforcement and federal priorities with the realities of serving a border community? 

The border is the federal government’s responsibility. It is a difficult job that requires federal resources. Their resources are far greater than any county. We will always assist our federal partners, but we will not do their job, nor will they do ours. We provide a public safety model that encourages those within our community to work with us in keeping our neighborhoods safe. This is fostered in our desire to be open and transparent and have a clear understanding of what it is our community expects of us. We provide a service that has nothing to do with one’s ethnicity, citizenship, or racial background. 

As a subject matter expert in criminal investigations, how does that perspective shape your understanding of public safety challenges in the current immigration and law enforcement landscape? 

My experience leads me to believe that we are at a critical juncture in how we are seen as law enforcement professionals. In today’s world, now more than ever, we need to be “cops.” We all took an oath to protect our constitution and the rights it affords those within our charge; the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that all men were created equal. Equally important is our need to recognize the importance of due process and how it impacts the very core of our democracy. We like to think our challenges have never been seen before, however, some of those before us would say differently. They would remind us of what we already know…follow the law, stay committed to those you serve. 

How does the Pima County Sheriff’s Department navigate current dynamics related to ICE deportation operations while maintaining community trust? 

Both the community and local ICE officials are fully aware that this Sheriff will not be participating in any type of immigration raid. Furthermore, if they want someone in our custody, they will need to produce a judicial warrant signed by a judge, not an ICE administrative clerk. The community understands the role of the sheriff is to simply follow the law. It’s what they expect and what I took an oath to do. 

Why did you choose to join the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) and what aspect of the task force’s work are you most looking forward to engaging with? 

I decided to join the task force because I believe it’s important that the American public hears from all sides on these issues. I look forward to working with other members in putting out the truth when it comes to this administration’s mass deportation efforts.