A troubling picture is emerging within the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, revealed through a trove of internal emails. These communications detail a surprisingly close working relationship with the producers of a reality television show, granting them unprecedented access to law enforcement operations.
The emails show producers were given access to footage of arrests and even use-of-force incidents, sparking internal debate among deputies. Concerns were raised about the appropriateness of sharing such sensitive material, and whether it compromised the department’s integrity.
Adding another layer of complexity, a significant reshuffling occurred within the department’s investigative units in the year leading up to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie. The heads of both the homicide and cold case units were reassigned during this period.
The show’s producers actively sought contacts for various units within the department, requesting access to sergeants and ongoing investigations. A reply from a captain acknowledged a widespread pattern of reassignments, noting that leadership across multiple teams had changed within the past year.
Over 220 pages of emails document the behind-the-scenes collaboration, revealing requests for “B-roll” footage – supplemental shots to enhance the show’s visual appeal. This included a request for a marked police SUV and a suggestion to use a newly acquired Tahoe for filming.
Producers weren’t solely focused on current operations. They also requested information on a notorious cold case: the 1996 murder of Gary Triano, killed by a pipe bomb planted in his car. The case gained national attention and resulted in convictions years later.
Department officials were actively encouraged to notify producers whenever “incidents occur,” suggesting a proactive effort to feed the show with compelling content. One producer expressed enthusiastic gratitude, calling the department’s cooperation “amazing and absolutely the best” he’d ever experienced.
A recurring theme in the emails is the producers’ urgency for bodycam footage. They repeatedly pressed for expedited access, even requesting that newer requests be prioritized over older ones, a request that was sometimes granted.
The emails raise a critical question: did the television crew’s requests for information take precedence over those from the public? Standard procedure typically dictates a first-come, first-served approach to public records requests.
These exchanges occurred between July and December 2025, months before Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills. Her disappearance remains unsolved, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation.
The timing of these events, coupled with the unusual level of access granted to the reality show crew, casts a shadow over the department’s handling of the Guthrie case and raises serious questions about priorities and transparency.
