Highway Patrol settles suit filed by female captain

The Board of Examiners agreed Tuesday to settle the harassment lawsuit filed by NHP Capt. Jacquelyn Sandage.

Sandage, the Highway patrol's highest ranking female officer, sued over remarks made by David Hosmer when he was the colonel in charge of NHP in 2006. The incident forced Hosmer's resignation from the patrol.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Steve Quinn said the case was getting to the point where it makes no sense to continue because of mounting attorney fees the state would have to pay if it lost the suit. Quinn described Sandage as a valued and highly qualified professional in the department.

And, according to the backup materials provided to the board consisting of the governor, attorney general and secretary of state, the litigation is having "a deleterious affect on the administration of the department."

The board agreed to pay her $480,000 to settle the case.

Gov. Jim Gibbons said after the meeting his administration is making every possible effort to ensure that harassment of state workers by their peers and bosses stops. He said that includes extensive education and a no-tolerance policy.

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The board approved a total of $656,491 for the Division of Child and Family Services to cover unanticipated costs from a combination of reduced federal funding and higher costs for the placement and treatment services for paroled youthful offenders.

About half that amount was because of the changes in federal regulations, which reduced money coming to Nevada from the federal government.

The board approved issuance of $3 million in general obligation bonds for the annual historic and cultural renovation projects approved by the Cultural Affairs Commission a month ago. Added to the bond money is another $120,000 in interest from last year's award money for a total of $3.12 million.

The money goes toward projects including Virginia City's Fourth Ward School and Piper's Opera House, the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City and other such preservation projects.

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