Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam is stepping in to steady Reno’s top law enforcement agency after the City of Reno asked his office to assume interim oversight of the Reno Police Department. The request comes after Chief Kathryn Nance and five other department members were placed on paid administrative leave during an internal review, with city leaders insisting regular patrols, 911 response and day-to-day policing will keep running as usual while an outside review unfolds.
What the sheriff said
In a statement Monday morning, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it had formally agreed to Reno’s request and stressed that "our focus is clear: protect public safety, maintain security, and ensure all residents experience no interruption in law enforcement and public safety services." The release notes that Sheriff Balaam consulted with Governor Joe Lombardo and Las Vegas Metro Sheriff Kevin McMahill to coordinate what officials are calling a smooth, temporary handoff of leadership while the situation is sorted out.
Who will run the department
The City of Reno has approved an interlocal agreement with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and Washoe County Undersheriff Corey Solferino is expected to act as Reno’s interim chief while the investigation plays out, according to KOLO. City officials say routine police work will continue without interruption, while county leadership provides executive-level staffing support to keep the department on an even keel until the probe is complete.
City response and the probe
Mayor Hillary Schieve called the development "incredibly hard" and said the city has turned over unspecified compliance issues to the Nevada Department of Public Safety for an independent look, Our Town Reno reported. City Manager Jackie Bryant has framed the short-term partnership with the sheriff’s office as an attempt to safeguard public confidence and keep operations steady while outside reviewers dig into the details.
Why it matters for Reno
The temporary takeover is meant to prevent any gaps in emergency coverage, but it also throws a spotlight on questions about command decisions, training documentation and public trust that state investigators are expected to review. Regional teamwork is not new in northern Nevada, and multiple agencies previously stepped in after the Grand Sierra Resort shooting in July 2025, which showed how outside partners can be pulled in during complicated cases. For background on that earlier response, see coverage by AP News.
Legal and administrative implications
Local reporting has stressed that paid administrative leave is a standard administrative step that allows an independent review to take place without interference and does not amount to a finding of misconduct. The Nevada Department of Public Safety will handle the outside administrative review and could ultimately recommend disciplinary action, policy revisions or no further steps at all depending on what it finds, Our Town Reno reports.
