Latest news with #MartinMleczko
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
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@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nearly half of Nevada trooper positions remain vacant: ‘More dangerous roads for everyone'
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nearly half of all Nevada State Police trooper positions are vacant two years after the Legislature worked to solve the staffing crisis and as leadership warns open positions are affecting safety. For decades, Nevada State Police have struggled to keep up with pay from local police departments and retirement benefits. In 2022, there were times when just three or four troopers were patrolling the entire Las Vegas valley at night, the 8 News Now Investigators reported that year. Around that time, state police reported a 50% vacancy rate in the Las Vegas area. A presentation given to the Nevada Legislature in 2021 included these startling statements: 'Most highways are not covered on graveyard,' 'Highway patrol may get to the point where they must turn away certain calls for service,' and 'Response time to calls for service will continue to increase.' Leaders with the Department of Public Safety, which oversees Nevada State Police, presented their proposed budgets for the next two fiscal years to a joint legislative committee Friday. During the presentation, representatives from the departments said staff remains a critical issue. 'Fewer troopers means slower response times, fewer impaired drivers stopped, faster speeds, deadlier crashes and more dangerous roads for everyone,' Lt. Col. Martin Mleczko said. In 2023, the Nevada Legislature increased state police pay to better align with other agencies. However, an increase in the percentage state employees will have to pay into the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) starting in July will offset these raises, the union representing state police warned. 'Our law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to keep our state safe,' Nevada Police Union president Dan Gordon said. 'It's imperative that our legislators take immediate action to ensure that the retirement system does not become a financial burden on these dedicated public servants. We expect proactive involvement and innovative solutions from our lawmakers to address this urgent issue.' A chart shown to lawmakers during the committee meeting Friday revealed highway patrol substations in parts of rural Nevada have no staff. The 8 News Now Investigators first reported on this lack of staff three years ago. 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. Leadership at the Department of Public Safety noted recruitment efforts over the past year have been successful, adding recruits tended to favor parole and probation over patrol. For the first time since 2017, more people joined the department than separated, leadership said. The 8 News Now Investigators will explore this issue throughout February. 8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
