Embattled Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has blown the investigation into Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother thanks to a combination of “ego, incompetence, and politics,” a former NYPD investigator told The Post — adding there is no way the top cop can keep his job.

Nanos, who has been front and center in the high-profile hunt for Nancy Guthrie, 84, since her puzzling disappearance on Feb. 1, has been accused of bungling the case, while alienating his fellow officers, the general public and the media.

“He’s made this whole case about himself,” said Michael Gould, a founding member of the NYPD’s K-9 unit and a retired commanding officer of Nassau County Police’s K-9 unit.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been accused of blowing the investigation to find Nancy Guthrie. Rebecca Noble for NY Post

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been accused of blowing the investigation to find Nancy Guthrie. Rebecca Noble for NY Post

“It could be only one of these three things: ego, incompetence, or politics, because he’s running for office,” the search and recovery expert told The Post.

In the early days of the Guthrie probe, Nanos, a highly experienced police officer, held regular press conferences where he alone fielded questions, putting “flashing lights” on his back, as Gould put it.

“I’ve been an outspoken critic of his from the very first few press conferences,” Gould said. “He should have assigned a public information officer to go out in front of the press to confirm or deny certain things.”

In recent weeks, Nanos has faced a barrage of criticism for cherry-picking sympathetic reporters for one-off interviews.

“It’s almost like he’s intentionally trying to cloud the issues because you never get a straight answer, Gould added.

The 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie has not been seen since Jan. 31. Instagram / @savannahguthrie

The 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie has not been seen since Jan. 31. Instagram / @savannahguthrie

“He’s been ambiguous from day one. The community doesn’t know if there’s a serial killer running around.”

“My biggest trigger was when he started to blame the general public and the media,” he said. “The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was when he said the cadaver dogs are on hold.

“What does that mean? It either implies she’s alive or they’re not looking for her anymore. Why wouldn’t you answer the question?” Gould said.

Michael Gould, a founding member of the NYPD’s K-9 unit, slammed Nanos’s handling of the case. Hounds Town

Michael Gould, a founding member of the NYPD’s K-9 unit, slammed Nanos’s handling of the case. Hounds Town

The former NYPD cop also called out Nanos for working short days in the office, taking trips to the gym to workout, and driving around in a new $70,000 sports car.

“It seems intentional, by the cars he’s driving, by his lifestyle, to draw attention away from the case and towards him,” Gould said.

The besieged Nanos is facing a triple-whammy of crises, including a $1.3 million lawsuit from a Pima County inmate, a recall campaign from a Republican congressional candidate, and allegations he lied under oath about his resume.

Nanos driving his $70,000 sports car. New York Post

Nanos driving his $70,000 sports car. New York Post

Gould doesn’t believe Nanos will be able to survive the mess.

“He’s done this to himself. All he had to do was be like any other sheriff’s department and take a backset. It was his ego,” Gould said, adding that Nanos should have used the media and the general public for help, just as the detectives who captured Luigi Mangione — the alleged killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson — did.

“The media and the public is responsible for capturing Luigi Mangione,” Gould said. “Law enforcement had him going to Atlanta, and he was reported by a McDonald’s worker in Altoona, Pennsylvania.”

He has also been seen leaving the office early and taking leisurely visits to the gym. New York Post

He has also been seen leaving the office early and taking leisurely visits to the gym. New York Post

The sheriff also faces a separate $1.3 million lawsuit and accusations of lying under oath about his employment history. New York Post

The sheriff also faces a separate $1.3 million lawsuit and accusations of lying under oath about his employment history. New York Post

Gould added that he feels for the rank-and-file officers in Pima County.

“My ire goes towards Nanos, not the FBI, not the sheriff’s investigators,” he said. “They’re probably embarrassed by him as much as anybody else.”

Nanos and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department did not respond immediately to The Post’s requests for comment.