Pima sheriff criticised for Paw Patrol costume amid Guthrie disappearance case
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has drawn online criticism after appearing in a Halloween video dressed as Chase from the children’s series Paw Patrol. The clip promoted a sheriff’s department event, but viewers linked it to the unresolved disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie and questioned the department’s priorities.
Guthrie was taken from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson after last being seen on 31 January; a masked person was recorded outside her home in the early hours of 1 February. The sheriff’s office released two ransom notes believed to be genuine in July, while Nanos denied claims that he withheld evidence from the FBI. The video was published on social media ahead of an event scheduled for 24 October, and the department appeared to disable comments.
- Sheriff Chris Nanos appeared in a Paw Patrol-themed Halloween video.
- Viewers criticised the clip amid Nancy Guthrie’s unresolved disappearance.
- The video promoted a sheriff’s department event on 24 October.
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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is the law enforcement agency for Pima County in southern Arizona, which includes Tucson. Its sheriff, Chris Nanos, leads the department and has been involved in the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Guthrie, who was 84, was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson on 31 January. A masked person was recorded outside the home the following morning, and the case remains unresolved. The sheriff’s office has said two ransom notes released in July were believed to be genuine; Nanos has denied claims that he withheld evidence from the FBI.
The case has drawn public attention because Guthrie has not been found and key questions remain unanswered. That context explains why some viewers connected a department Halloween video to the investigation and questioned how the sheriff’s office was spending its attention.
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The case for
A sheriff’s public appearance in a playful costume can be seen as a harmless way to promote a community event, and the video was not reported to concern the disappearance investigation. The department may also have been continuing routine public outreach while investigators pursued the case, rather than diverting resources from it.
The case against
With Nancy Guthrie still missing, some residents may reasonably expect the sheriff and department to show particular sensitivity and keep public attention on the search. The costume video and disabled comments could therefore appear poorly timed or dismissive, especially to people seeking visible updates and accountability, even if the clip was intended only as event promotion.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Arizona sheriff’s office that bungled Nancy Guthrie investigation panned for dressing up as Paw Patrol characters in ‘cringe’ Halloween clip”.