Reno Unpatrolled: Nevada Runction of Trooper leaves the highways vulnerable overnight, says Union – foxreno.com

Reno, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) – The continued shortage of patrol troops on the Nevada highways has reached critical levels, says the union representing soldiers with the increase in the degree of vacancies and the agency still cannot cover shifts of the cemetery in the Renault region.

Nearly two years after the announcement of the Union, there will be no coverage of 2-5 o’clock in the morning, this remains today, since now the percentage of job vacancies at NHP Trooper has actually increased slightly to 44%.

President of the Police Union in Nevada Dan Gordon sounded the shortage alarm in a long interview with News 4-Fox 11, saying this was the worst he saw in 18 years with NHP.

It’s scary. Our resources are scattered. This is the worst we have ever been.

Gordon said the shortage was particularly dangerous during major incidents, such as the deadly disaster last Friday on the I-580 of the Galena Creek Bridge.

“Almost everyone who works in a patrol is needed to deal with these (big) crashes. So it leaves the rest of the Renaults mostly non -parried. So all the other calls will just have to get to them when we can,” said He.

Proactive application, such as patrolling highways for Speeders or violated drivers, is difficult to be impossible with current levels of staff, Gordon said as they are focused on the crashes.

According to the State Police in Nevada, of the financed 392 TROOPER positions, only 218 are filled and 174 are vacancies, which makes a job percentage over 44%.

In a statement to the News 4-Fox 11 spokesman said he continued to navigate the challenges of staff and recruitment “like many other law enforcement authorities across the country.”

Although we do not disclose specific operational details, we are constantly evaluating and adapting our resources to maximize the coverage and improve the implementation of traffic in Nevada. Our Reno planning strategy is designed to be aligned with peak search, guaranteeing the highest level of public service and our allied agencies. We remain flexible in meeting these needs through overtime, duty staff and other strategic adjustments, if necessary.

Gordon said the local police were often called to respond to big calls overnight when none of the soldiers work a cemetery.

The reasons for the continued shortage are not complicated – there is a significant difference in pay between local police departments and state police, Gordon said.

Even after the soldiers, as well as all state workers, received a significant increase in salaries in the legislative session in 2023, the payment of the home is not yet competing for local departments when you are taking into account the retirement contributions.

“You are taking 30% for our retirement contribution reduction compared to those external agencies where the county or local municipality pays that this contribution. So there is a huge difference in the actual payment of the home,” he said.

The difference means that NHP often serves as a police training that enter into law enforcement and train with NHP, after which they later leave a local police department for better pay, Gordon said.

At the end of the day, what they are looking at is that I could just go, you know, I can cross the street to another agency and make 25 or 30% more.

The Nevada Police Union prompts state legislators to start the state to pay more than the pension contributions to workers, essentially raising the pay of the home.

A bill introduced in the legislative session in 2023 would increase the state’s contribution to 75%instead of the current 50%. The Democrats and several Republicans passed the measure and sent it to governor Joe Lombardo, who vetoed the bill, citing concerns about running costs.

“The additional state budget costs associated with this change are unknown and present a constant and potentially unstable increase, which can lead to the inability to finance other important programs that continue forward,” Lombardo wrote in his veto message.

A similar measure is expected to be introduced at the legislative session in 2025.

The Nevada highway patrol has encouraged anyone interested in law enforcement agencies to visit their website to explore career opportunities.

The Nevada Highway Patrol offers a dynamic and rewarding career for those who want to serve their community and make a noticeable impact on the safety of the roadway. With offices throughout the country, we provide opportunities for those who flourish in fast urban circles and those who prefer the unique challenges of rural patrol. Whether navigating in the silhouette of Las Vegas or protecting the remote highways of the large pool, our soldiers play a critical role in protecting Nevada’s most advantageous advantage, her people.

Email reporter Ben Margit on [email protected]. Follow @Benmargiott Of X and Ben Margit Krnv on Facebook.