Reno police operations continue amid chief leave

Reno’s police department is still operating under temporary leadership six weeks after Chief Kathryn Nance and five other employees were placed on paid administrative leave on March 9. (reno.gov) The City of Reno said the leave is tied to an independent administrative investigation into alleged violations of city policy, and it asked the Nevada Department of Public Safety to handle the review. City officials said administrative leave is not a finding of wrongdoing. (reno.gov) Washoe County Undersheriff Corey Solferino became acting chief the same day under an interlocal agreement between Reno and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. The city said police services would continue “without interruption” under existing department policies and procedures. (reno.gov) On March 25, Reno City Council approved a broader agreement authorizing Washoe County staff or other qualified people to fill temporary administrative support roles as needed. The city then named Sean Garlock as acting chief of sworn staff and Wayne Yarbrough as acting chief of support staff. (reno.gov) That structure matters because the officers on leave still technically hold their jobs, which limits Reno’s ability to permanently reshuffle the chain of command while the investigation is open. The Reno Gazette Journal reported the city turned to outside and retired personnel rather than make internal promotions into positions that are still occupied on paper. (rgj.com) The temporary arrangement could also become expensive. The Reno Gazette Journal reported on March 12 that the sheriff’s office takeover could last months and cost Reno as much as $2 million, and the council later approved the interlocal agreement framework for that interim support. (rgj.com) (reno.gov) Public details about the underlying allegations remain limited. The Reno Gazette Journal reported on March 10 and again on March 23 that the city had not disclosed what prompted the investigation, even as the case entered its third week. (rgj.com 1) (rgj.com 2) Solferino said on April 17 that the transition was going well, according to the Reno Gazette Journal, which also reported he was not collecting “double pay” while serving as acting chief. That leaves Reno with a department still answering calls and running investigations, but with its top permanent leadership still sidelined and the city still saying more information will be released only when it is legally appropriate. (rgj.com) (reno.gov)