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Judge Slaps Down Sisolak’s Defund Police Efforts

NPU: ‘Gov. Sisolak has been the most anti-union, anti-police governor we have ever worked for’

State Police motorcycles parked in front of Valley View Rec Center, Henderson, NV, August 2004. (Photo: Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock)

The Nevada Board of Examiners are charged with approving the Collective Bargaining agreements (CBA) for all state employees including the Nevada Police Union (NPU). The NPU represents Nevada State Troopers, Parole and Probation Officers, Park Rangers, Capitol Police, University Police Officers, Game Wardens and other state Public Safety Officers. The board consists of Governor Steve Sisolak, Attorney General Aaron Ford, and Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske.

NPU sought arbitration as provided by state law for their CBA.  The arbitrator awarded the NPU a two-percent pay raise for Category I state police officers and added compensation increases for continued education, training and degrees. NPU’s CBA, once approved and enacted, would bring some financial relief to a strained state-police workforce.

Most notably, State Police are currently paid 25%-50% below their counterparts at the city and county level. Additionally, according to a source close to the NPU, they are suffering a 160 percent annual turnover rate due to poor working conditions and poor pay.

The state, represented by the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, fought the arbitrator’s August decision in court.

The case was heard in late November by District Court Judge Russell of Department I in Carson City, Nevada. Judge Russell issued his ruling last week in favor of NPU, agreeing with the arbitrator’s decision and awarding NPU’s compensation and increases. Judge Russell ordered the state to submit a CBA that reflects the arbitrator’s decision to the Board of Examiners. In addition, Judge Russell sanctioned the state to pay for NPU’s attorney fees and costs.

Matthew Kaplan, president of NPU said:

“The state has been fighting the Nevada Police on a collective bargaining agreement ever since the legislature passed the law to allow state employees to unionize in 2019. We hope Judge Russell’s decision will end the state’s continuous fight against its peace officers.”

According to Kaplan, Ford’s office is considering appealing Judge Russell’s Decision and refusing the 2% pay increase for State Police.

In the last two years, the state has increased their Public Employees’ Retirement System cost, increased their health insurance cost, reduced their uniform allowance, and mandated furlough days. Just last week, the state imposed a monthly surcharge on employees and the dependents that have not received a COVID-19 vaccination.

Matthew Kaplan added:

“The state’s defunding of the police, little-by-little, has caused the highest turnover and vacancy rate ever experienced, which makes our state less safe. We are nearly at a 50% vacancy now and crashes and crime are at an all-time high.”

In September, The NPU officially endorsed Dean Heller for Governor’s race in a scathing rebuke of Sisolak:

“Nevada police officers have been chastised and demonized under this current governor, Steve Sisolak. In the last year alone, Gov. Sisolak’s administration has stalled our collective bargaining agreement, raised the cost of our health insurance, docked our uniform allowance, and ignored dozens of requests for better working conditions through the pandemic. Gov. Sisolak has been the most anti-union, anti-police governor we have ever worked for.

Former U.S. Senator Dean Heller recognizes public safety as a primary function of government. Heller is against the ‘defund the police’ movement, which Sisolak and others have encouraged. Heller is for safe neighborhoods, while Sisolak’s policies have driven-up crime and violence across Nevada. Simply put, the Nevada Police Union is endorsing Dean Heller for Nevada Governor because he supports us and Sisolak doesn’t.”

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Robert Lauer: Rob is an Investigative Journalist covering both Nevada and National politics. He is he founder of 360newslasvegas.com and previously owned the News Max TV Channel in Las Vegas.

View Comments (1)

  • I’m voting Joe Lombardo, and will boycott our so called Governor Sisolak, for the harm he has done to this state, and the same with Aaron Ford. Shame on them both for the lack of support of our law enforcement! I wrote to Aaron Ford myself for help in regards to a home purchase I made in December of 2021, and got zero reply, call, email or any other communication. From him or his office. Four days after moving in to my home, Thick, black oil came up into my showers, tubs, toilets, sinks, and it cost me over 1,700 dollars to have all of the oil taken out. The investor I bought the property from, as well as the HOA, ignored completely my request to find out where this oil came from. As a single, 73 year old woman, I had to leave my new place and stay in a hotel with my dogs while things were being fixed. My HOA wouldn’t even send the resident plumber over and ignored my several requests. I still see black in the water occasionally, but am out of money! Aaron Ford ignored me as well. I will be selling as soon as the exorbitant interest rates go down, and will not move to another Democratic run state. California, and Nevada have proven to me that all the Dems leadership cares about is their inflated salaries, their mansions, and the protection we tax payers provide them!

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