NHP head resigns after less than 2 years

Troy Abney has resigned as head of the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Abney was not available Friday but James Wright, head of the Department of Public Safety, said it was a mutual decision between Abney and him. The resignation is effective immediately.

Until a permanent replacement is named, Deputy DPS Director Jackie Muth will run NHP. She is the department’s first female deputy director and will be the first woman to run the highway patrol, Wright said.

Wright said he won’t name a permanent colonel in charge of NHP until after Jan. 1.

Abney, who retired from the California Highway Patrol, was named head of NHP in April 2012.

“He always looked at this as kind of an interim place,” Wright said. “He implemented some great stuff for us and we’re grateful for that, but he felt it was time to pursue some other opportunities.”

Abney said his second in command in Southern Nevada, Todd Ellison, announced his retirement this week. He will officially leave Dec. 20 after 29 years with NHP.

“It’s terrible timing,” Wright said. “But we’ll move on.”