Nevada State Police leadership asks troopers, staff to complete ‘climate survey'
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Leadership at Nevada State Police have sent surveys to staff about the department's 'climate' amid a staffing shortage and low morale, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.
The 'climate survey' asks employees to respond to questions about communication, challenges and the department's role in the community. Specific questions include: 'Does your leadership communicate important information openly and promptly? If not, how do you think this could be improved?' and 'Do you believe the current direction of NHP is consistent with the mission and vision? If not, why?'
The department's chief and second-in-command retired in March and April, raising questions about the agency's future amid a trooper staffing crisis, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported. Col. Patrick Conmay retired after 50 years of service in law enforcement, a spokesperson confirmed. Lt. Col. Martin Mleczko also retired after more than 20 years of service.
George Togliatti, the director of the Department of Public Safety, was leading the agency. Earlier this month, the department announced a replacement for its assistant director who was planning to retire in July.
It was not immediately clear why the assistant director position was filled before it was vacated alongside two open sworn leadership positions vacated in March and April.
A letter to staff regarding the climate survey refers to the department as 'Nevada Highway Patrol,' however, the department changed its name to 'Nevada State Police' in 2021. During a legislative hearing involving the topic of recruitment, staff said the move was a marketing tool. Sometimes, the department is called both names combined: 'Nevada State Police Highway Patrol,' as it says on the department's website.
Both Conmay and Mleczko appeared before committees at the Legislature in February amid the department's nearly 45% trooper vacancy rate. As of that month, 218 troopers patrolled statewide. The state budget calls for 392 trooper positions, meaning just about half of the workforce is staffed.
The staffing shortage comes as death on Nevada's roads continues to rise. In 2023, Nevada reported 1.4 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled versus the national average of 1.26, according to the department.
Last Legislative session, lawmakers approved wage increases totaling 23% in the first year and 11% in the second. Starting in July, the amount of money state police employees have to put into their state retirement accounts will increase, erasing gains from two years ago. Amid the pay gap, some rural substations are empty, and on some nights, just a handful of troopers are patrolling the entire Las Vegas valley.
In April, an arbitrator sided with the Nevada Police Union, which represents troopers and other police, recommending 3% salary increases for the next two years. However, the budget Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo submitted earlier this legislative session did not include any wage or cost-of-living increases, according to the arbitrator. In an interview with the 8 News Now Investigators in March, Lombardo speculated the Legislature would not have the finances for any raises for state employees.
Attorneys for the state and the union, however, could not agree on potential wage increases for the next two years. Democrats who control the Legislature have said there was no room for wage increases with Lombardo's budget and expected federal cuts.
A spokesperson for the department did not return a request for comment about the survey.
Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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