State, feds investigating transfer of 54 NHP cars to Storey County and other local governments

Federal authorities are investigating the apparently illegal transfer of dozens of Nevada Highway Patrol cars to Storey County and other local agencies.

NHP Col. David Hosmer told a legislative subcommittee studying Public Safety budgets that 54 vehicles "were surplused out" to Storey County in violation of state property rules.

The transfers occurred between between October 2000 and August 2001. More transfers to other local entities were made during that period, but none received nearly as many cars.

The issue was raised by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, who questioned not only the violation of state procedure, but why a county with no more than eight deputies on the road needed 54 surplus NHP cars.

Storey County Sheriff Pat Whitten, who has held that office since 1999, was in meetings Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.

NHP vehicles typically are retired after about two years on the road, but are still serviceable for agencies which don't put as many miles on them each day. For years, the state has had procedures allowing local governments to buy those vehicles as they leave state service.

Public Safety Director Richard Kirkland is recuperating from knee surgery and wasn't at the hearing. He has headed the department since May 2000.

Deputy Public Safety Director Dave Kieckbusch said the cars were transferred to Storey County and other local agencies without cost and in violation of state rules. Because no provisions were made to repay the Federal Highway Fund, which paid for them in the first place, he said the federal government is investigating the transactions.

"It's happened, apparently, for years," said Kieckbusch. "We had, basically, supervising mechanics signing off titles."

"The rules were in place. They simply weren't followed," he said. The highway patrol discovered the problem shortly after he was hired as deputy director, he said.

"That's an abuse of the process," said Giunchigliani, charging that Public Safety's administration needs to be held accountable for improper disposal of state property.

"This is not meant to attack anyone," she said. "It's just, who is running the ship? What is going on and how are we going to repay the Highway Fund?"

Kieckbusch and Hosmer said the individuals involved in the transfers have all left the Public Safety Department and are no longer state employees.

They said after the hearing that Storey County apparently has transferred most of the vehicles to other local agencies which need them, including several small counties as well as school police agencies.

Hosmer said the problem is the money those agencies pay for the vehicles is going to Storey County, not the Highway Fund.

Hosmer said they were told by a deputy attorney general there is little the state can do since the titles were signed over to the counties. He said there's no way to get the vehicles or money back. But Kieckbusch said after the hearing that Attorney General Brian Sandoval's staff is taking another look at the situation.

"It's not a closed issue," he said.

"At the very minimum, we'll notify Storey County that when they dispose of those vehicles, the money needs to come back to the Highway Fund," said Hosmer.