By Matt Ward
A request for a temporary restraining order to prevent the Nye County Sheriff’s Office from opening its new $17 million detention facility later this month was filed Tuesday afternoon in District Court.
An attorney with the Nye County Law Enforcement Association prepared the order on behalf of union members. Union president Det. David Boruchowitz filed the temporary restraining order request with the clerk’s office.
The union represents staff-level sheriff’s deputies throughout the county.
The grievance was filed over proposed staffing levels at the new jail among other issues. NCLEA officials complain Sheriff Tony DeMeo is willing to put the safety of employees and inmates in danger in order to get the facility open.
In an affidavit attached to the request, Boruchowitz states that per orders from DeMeo, the new Pahrump jail is scheduled to open on Oct. 24 “with inadequate additional staffing to cover the size and capacity of the facility.”
The 224-bed facility was scheduled to open in August, but minor construction delays and training issues have postponed its opening. The 58,000-square-foot facility was built to replace the current 8,000 square-foot, 35-bed Pahrump Detention Center.
Staffing issues don’t just affect the new jail, according to the detective.
“The staffing levels in the current Pahrump detention facility, the current Tonopah detention facility, and the proposed staffing levels of the new Pahrump detention facility are dangerously low. The Nye County Law Enforcement Association has filed a grievance over the Sheriff’s continued failure to address and remedy employee safety concerns relating to staffing within the detention centers, specifically concerns relating to opening the new facility without appropriate staffing levels. The Sheriff has thus far refused to delay the opening of the new facility,” the affidavit states.
Judge Robert Lane signed the union’s request and scheduled an expedited hearing on the matter for Oct. 25 at 9 a.m.
DeMeo, coincidentally, was handed a summons on the matter by Asst. Sheriff Rick Marshall Tuesday as he sat waiting for commissioners to call him into a private hearing regarding the $1 million he spent beyond his budget in the last fiscal year. DeMeo had already faced intense scrutiny earlier in the day when commissioners received a blistering report on the state of Nye County’s $6 million emergency communications system, for which DeMeo and his subordinates were responsible until recently; the system is not working properly, is outdated and in need of costly repair.
Asked for comment on the union request for a restraining order, DeMeo said he would defer to District Attorney Brian Kunzi since the matter is headed for court.
Kunzi was not available for comment by press time.
According to exhibits attached to NCLEA’s court filing, the union filed a grievance over staffing concerns at the jail as far back as January.
In that initial exchange, the union highlighted several concerns, including that “jail staffing is such that many times there is only one deputy working at any given time.” The grievance points out that often the single deputy doesn’t even have a technician available to monitor surveillance video and take phone calls — should an emergency occur, the grievance notes, there wouldn’t be any lifeline available to the deputy at all.
“There are instances where deputies are called to perform bailiff duties and when they are, there are instances where the jail is then left to the care of the bubble tech (a technician who monitors surveillance, handles records and answers phones) in the jail with no jail deputy present. Due to staffing levels an inmate was almost sent to the hospital without deputy supervision with the ambulance crew while in custody,” the January grievance states.
As part of a mediated settlement to that grievance, the union agreed to allow an “outside agency” to come in and conduct a staffing analysis to include all jails in Nye County save for Beatty’s.
Before that could happen, one inmate, 27-year-old Kristina Lynn Leidecker, killed herself last May in a makeshift cell that offered a private bathroom. Jail deputies were alerted to the woman’s body by her cellmates, all of them crammed into what is usually used as a waiting room. Requests for investigative documents related to the suicide, which may support the union’s argument that dangerous staffing levels indeed exist at the jail, have repeatedly been refused the to Pahrump Valley Times.
NCLEA, meanwhile, requested that it get copies of the requested staffing analysis by June 30. By July, the union received the staffing analysis for the new jail.
“In that study, it recommended the staff for the new Pahrump facility be increased to 1 Lieutenant, 5 Sergeants, 20 Deputies, 5 Detention Technicians,” the document states. “Currently scheduled to work in the new facility is 1 Lieutenant, 1 Reserve Lieutenant, 2 Sergeants, 6 deputies and 2 Detention Technicians.”
The exhibit further states that on Oct. 10, the union attempted to further “the grievance procedure” with DeMeo to no avail and a formal grievance was then filed again.
“Unless the county is enjoined from opening the new facility, the Union’s members will be irreparably harmed because they will be forced into a situation which subjects them to extreme physical injury or death, and serious civil liability,” the court filing states.
In a copy of an Oct. 10 letter to DeMeo from NCLEA’s executive board, a few references are made to internal matters that seem to suggest other negative issues surround some jail staff and jail policies, including a statement that “NCLEA is currently aware of situations that are being administratively investigated in which NCSO Deputies are looking at being disciplined for a failure to stop an act which was potentially a civil rights violation and potentially criminal.” The letter goes on with NCLEA asking, “At what point is the NCLEA obligated to have someone else intervene and ensure that the safety of inmates and the safety of NCSO Deputies is upheld. The old ‘I’m just doing what I’m told’ defense doesn’t work in many cases anymore.”
-
- Horace Langford Jr. / Pahrump Valley Times – Sheriff Tony DeMeo shrugs as he struggles to enlighten county commissioners on the poor state of the county’s $6 million radio system on Tuesday. The sheriff was mired in controversy all day, including over his budget.
-
- Horace Langford Jr. / Pahrump Valley Times – Asst. Sheriff Rick Marshall hands Sheriff Tony DeMeo a court filing made Tuesday by the Nye County Law Enforcement Association, which is seeking to delay the opening of the new jail.
Another reason The Town of Pahrump needs something other than this crazy County ran method of operating…..This County jail should be in Tonopah! How does the County pay for it? It uses the poor, weak and confused of Pahrump to fill it up, like sheep. They know most will lay back and Sleep on a County mattress, eat County food and watch County TV. Now the County gets paid per “convict” per day for up to one year (sentences over a year go to the state. No County Dough in that)….Now, they get cycled back into the community as sentence completed but, there are no jobs in Pahrump. There are no opportunities to break-in much less advance in a career because we are a “bedroom community” a retirement community people come here to die. So,now you get labeled and watched. What do you think happens in a lot of cases? It is back to County jail. Now you have a repeat offender. Why does the County get to do all this here and have the backbone to charge the Town for services! Pahrump is over policed by the County Sheriff’s department and over managed by other County departments I.E. planning, planning and more planning. There is enough law enforcement to unionize and conflict a whole other group of Law Enforcers. And if a new business wants to come to Pahrump the county does everything in its power to collect every advance fee they can collect and stall on every phase of the potential new business only to have it held up by some other county department wanting paychecks.This has gotten truly evil. Why in the Hell would the Governor call anyone back here?
Edit: Michael…watch your language. – PVT
“the County gets paid per “convict” per day for up to one year ”
HUH ??????? what R U smoking ??
“they get cycled back into the community as sentence completed”
But they came from the “community”.
“charge the Town for services”
HUH ??????????
Wow, talk about un-informed.
I am poorly informed not un-informed the whole County deal in regards to Pahrump is twisted.
I wouldn’t mind if you would clarified how it works. In idiot terms please.
The jail is just that…a jail, it holds those from the “community” or “county” who get arrested in the “county”. There is a jail in Tonopah that holds those who get arrested in the northern part of the county. Nobody gets “paid” to hold prisoners, the town doesn’t “pay” the county for anything. WE, the taxpayers absorb the cost of detaining the prisoners (as in any other municipality).
As far as fees for new business, the county has stopped collecting the impact fees and the “rush” to open new business has been negligible if at all.
Timing is everything…..and thank you for clarifying who pays for the poor, weak and confused.
“thank you for clarifying who pays for the poor, weak and confused.”
Michael, my pleasure, always happy to inform those who are “poorly informed”.
I’m still trying to figure out why you are mocking me? And I am still waiting to hear why the county jail is in Pahrump? And since i brought it up Here is a reality check with all the County employees that live and work here would any of them let their child ride a bike on Basin, Wilson or Blagg rds. or PV blvd. NO The Road dept. is about the only County infrastructure that is not private. Why do you think the County Commission is even considering the Hafen sewer deal? It is an opportunity for government expansion in a rural atmosphere. MY whole point is not to say that the county is corrupt well, mostly not corrupt. I know and like a lot of them, Sheriff Tony De mayo for starters. I understand where they are coming from. I just think it is time for Pahrump to get spoiled a little. A Fairground, some bike paths maybe some mental health facilities. I dunno morgman you tell me. I know something is souring the once fertile soil. Also, to answer your question ” what am i smoking?”. Until the State and local agencies figure out how to let me get my meds(weed) in a safe and legal manner i grow my own following state law.
That said, it appears you have bought into the fantasy that all the development problems may be laid at the feet of the Planning Department, when nothing could be further from the truth. Like the police, the Planning Department is there to enforce the laws made by State Legislators and the BOCC.
Also, there IS a county jail in Tonopah and it is used for those incarcerated and/or adjudicated there, and the one here in Pahrump is mostly for those in the southern part of the county where the vast majority of the ne’er do wells reside. Perhaps you could contact the Sheriff’s department and they would be willing to give you some facts about the jails. Also, stop on by the planning department and get your information directly from the source instead of hearsay.
Have a great day.
No, in my fantasy i see a town with enough county influence living in it to have already made Pahrump into something more special than just special interests. A Community with sidewalk and curbs where one could ride a bike or walk a dog, A place with some localized culture and shopping. And most of all a Fairgrounds. For 17mil in my Fantasy we get a 112 bed 8.5mil jail and a new 8.5mil Fairgounds. Also, I am not blaming Planning for the DEAD economy in Ptown. as you already know i don’t have a clue but is it “Nye County Planning” and The “Pahrump Regional Planning Committee (PRPC)”? or is it just the” Nye County Regional Pahrump Planning Committe”?
” Community with sidewalk and curbs where one could ride a bike or walk a dog, A place with some localized culture and shopping.”
You do realize that most of us moved away from places like these because they repulse us. We know what goes along with the shopping and local culture, high taxes, more cops, more fees, more laws, more bans and more yuppie liberals.
Less bike paths, LESS curbs, less dog parks.. more freedom.
I think you chose the wrong town to live in if you are looking for a yuppie suburb.
Well said SamSan.
That’s easy for you to say, you probably make up that part of Ptown that is retired or came here to die…the lure of no death taxes is very attractive to the newly retired and the “I didn’t plan for this” crowd. I was only 4 when i got here. The choice wasn’t mine to make. Believe me I know what it was like to grow up on the dirt and gravel roads here. I also know what it was like to walk across open desert to get to the community center for school. and bla, bla,bla ive been here my life and i would like to ride my bike to the park without taking some pickups mirror to the back of my head. Wouldn’t you? You should have lived here then. Staying on point you mentioned more cops if we had a fairground or bike paths here, Do i need to point out the 17million dollar county jail smack in the middle of Pahrump I think every dollar spent on county development in Pahrump the county be required to spend, give, gift, develop or whatever they gotta do an equal dollar for the TOWN…not more county committees, buy outs, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, planning ect.
This situation is pandemic..i.e. it’s a common problem across the country..overcrowded jails, huge backlogs of cases waiting to be adjudicated…why? Because the Oligarchy is making money on this deplorable state of affairs… 90% of the people going thru the criminal justice system in America are there do to drugs..
The Solution? Decriminalize Drug use, Control the manufactue, the sale and tax it. Just like alcohol. PROHIBITION DOES NOT WORK! only a person devoid of historical understanding (Prohibition of Alcohol) would be against decriminalization. The other group of people that are against decriminalization are those who are making money on so-called illegal drug use. These would be Drug Lords, crooked law officers, Banks that launder drug money, and of course those in the “business of building jails”
Why would we need the advice of a police union to staff our jail? The sheriff ran a million bucks over budget and exactly where does this union expect to come up with the funds to add more guards? I have a suggestion, we cut wages and add a couple of more guards. And use “rent a cops” for the jail areas that have less security needs.
It’s time for the county to end our association with public employee unions.
First of all Pahrump needs to split from NYE county,,Pahrump voters can set some boundries and make Pahrump a county,this way our tax dollors will all stay in Pahrump. Nye county is 18,000 square miles. larger tan some states.
,
Second,,this will save money,,cost a lot to run prisioners back and forth to Tonopah,,
Third,,this looks like an other move by the cop shop union to get the county to hire more cops,..Bunch of bull crap.. If they onoly let one prisioner out at a time can’t see why more than 2 deputies are needed..Jail is supposed to be a bad place to be..How come we don’t have chain gangs??
FINALLY, someone who understands the problem.
“Because the Oligarchy is making money on this deplorable state of affairs… 90% of the people going thru the criminal justice system in America are there do to drugs..”
Yep, just legalize drugs and then we can fire 1/2 of all the law enforcement people in the country including the ones at the federal level.
And don’t forget at these private prisons like CCA they have made deals with the Federal Government to make sure the prisons are 90% full for the next 20 years as they get paid for every prisoner in the system THEREBY GUARANTEEING a country with the most incarcerated people in the entire world.
The real purpose of the “Drug War,” FROM THE BEGINNING under the Right Reverend Ronald Reagan, has been to nullify America’s liberties. By now, I’d bet that greater than 40% of the population can be counted on to side with the storm troopers no matter what they do, up to and including concentration camps.
“In all of history, no government became more honest, less corrupt, or granted its citizens more rights as it grew in size.”
That’s right! Build a $17,000,000 (see all those zeros?) jail and have it sit vacant! Brilliant! Isn’t having enough people to staff it taken into account BEFORE building it? This is Nye County. What more could I expect?
Our Sheriff stood before the BOCC and was asked point-blank the question re: staffing the proposed jail. His response was “we will not need additional staff”. According to our Sheriff, who has operated a jail of this magnitude before????, the new facility (over 200 beds) could be operated with the same staff as the current jail (20 – 30 beds?). And, our intellectual geniuses, Commissioners, bought it. Talk to anyone who has worked in the jail in Pahrump and the stories will flow freely about the challenges of UNDER staffing. As to the stance of the union, I believe their role is to address the safety of their members and the community. The Sheriff has been attempting to get “volunteers” to sign up to work in the new jail. Anyone here want to be locked up (as a guard, you are locked up) with over 200 inmates alone? All sorts of emergenies occur in a population of that size. One emergency, one guard, and no back up for the remaining 199+ inmates. How safe is that? Without pre-planning for staffing, which the BOCC should be held accountable for, this boondoggle should never have been built. Yes, the Pahrump facility was/is deplorable, but a more modest upgrade/expansion should have been the plan. It would have paid for itself in short order, just from the money saved by transporting inmates between Pahrump and Tonopah. Okay, citizens, community, here you are caught sleeping AGAIN, and this is what you get. WAKE UP. PAY ATTENTION. Where were you through the many months of meetings and hearings when this all started? You just love to B—– and point fingers at anyone else about what you get, after the fact.
I don’t understand how some people can blame the police union for this. Let’s get a couple of things straight. First of all, this jail should NEVER have been built. Why would we need a jail bigger than the one in Carson City? Second, the radio system was a boondoggle from the very beginning.
So how many of you voted for Tony? You reap what you sew.
We need a big jail in Pahrump,,half the town is on drugs,,lock them all up and throw away the key,,damn judges keep letting them out and then the cops lock them up again,,a big revolving door,if first offernders served time maybe they brak the law again,,you see the same people locked up and let out over and over again,,
Let’s name the vacant jail DeMeo Detention.