Captain announces bid for Lyon County sheriff

YERINGTON - A Yerington native and 16-year veteran of the Lyon County Sheriff's Department announced Friday his intention to run for sheriff.

Capt. Allen Veil, 46, is head of patrol, detectives, narcotics and training for the department.

Aside from a stint at the University Nevada, Reno following his graduation from Yerington High School in 1977, Veil has spent his life in Lyon County.

Initially, he planned to become a chemical engineer and follow in his father's steps working for the Anaconda Copper Mine in Yerington, but when the mine closed, Veil had to change his plans. While still in school, he took a seasonal job with the state parks department at Lake Lahontan and found he was interested in law enforcement.

For eight years he worked at the Yerington Police Department before becoming a sergeant with Lyon County.

Veil is the third person to announce he is running for the seat being left vacant by the retirement of Sheriff Sid Smith and his chief deputy Ken Barnes.

Former Los Angeles police officer Charlie Duke and Ron John, one-time Carson City deputy and Washington sheriff, told the county commissioners during a hearing Jan. 5 they intend to make bids for sheriff.

"This is just the next natural step. This is what I do and what I am," Veil said. "The time and money the taxpayers of Lyon County have spent on my education and my development, I'd like to continue giving back to them."

Veil said his main concerns are recruitment and retention of officers, combating methamphetamine and "getting patrol back on patrol."

"Our guys spend no time patrolling. They are handling calls, doing investigations, serving civil papers, just a myriad of stuff," he said.

Veil said he would also like to see the jail and administrative departments moved to Silver Springs.

"It would only make sense as far as efficiency. The department would be more centrally located," he said, noting Lyon County has five population centers and 2,000 square miles of land. Currently, when an arrest is made, a deputy could spend half a day transporting an inmate to and returning from the jail in Yerington, the county seat.

"I just feel I have a lot to offer and here I am," he said.

Candidates will file their intentions in May. The primary election is in August.

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.