State's constitutional officers sworn in

Nevada's constitutional officers took their oaths of office Monday in a brief ceremony at the Supreme Court building.

For Gov. Jim Gibbons, however, the oath was ceremonial since he was actually sworn in just after midnight in an unannounced, private ceremony at his Reno home.

Gibbons said he did so to assure Nevadans "that their leaders are in place, ready for any emergency." He said Monday that only one reporter from The Associated Press was invited.

He said the swearing in was also necessary to fill two key positions which were vacated at midnight - the director of homeland security and the director of Public Safety.

At the same time, he said, state agencies know of no credible threat to the state or nation.

Those appointments were Gibbons' first official acts in office.

It was the first time in, at least in recent history, that the governor was sworn in at a private ceremony and outside of Carson City.

Gibbons' third official act came after Monday's event - signing a proclamation proclaiming today a statewide day of mourning in honor of the passing of former President Gerald Ford.

To meet the requirements of the Nevada Constitution, which directs that new constitutional officers be sworn in the first Monday in January, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Secretary of State Ross Miller, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, Treasurer Kate Marshall and Controller Kim Wallin were also sworn in Monday. Although the event was open to the public, most attendees were family members of the new officials.

Bill Maupin, chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, administered the oath of office.

Since Monday was New Year's Day and a holiday, a formal inauguration ceremony, which is expected to draw several hundred, is set for 11 this morning on the Capital steps. Gibbons said he would repeat his oath of office a third time at the event.

Following his midnight swearing in, Gibbons named veteran Reno police official Phil Galeoto to head public safety, replacing George Togliatti, who resigned effective at midnight. Galeoto, Gibbons said, "has the experience and the management skills to build on the accomplishments of the Department of Public Safety."

Galeoto has been director of the Baghdad Police College, training Iraqi police. Prior to that, he served 24 years on the Reno Police Department.

Gibbons named Larry Martines to head the state's homeland security efforts. Martines is a worldwide consultant in counter-terrorism. He replaced Gen. Giles Vanderhoof, who retired effective at year's end.

Martines was with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 21 years before founding and directing the Citizens Homeland Security Council through the Washoe Sheriff's Department.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.