Storey County Sheriff: Tyson plans to restore civility, leadership and accountability

Storey County Sheriff's candidate John Tyson said if he's elected to office he will restore leadership and accountability to the Storey County Sheriff's Office.

"The most important thing I'm going to do right off the top is I'm going to restore civility. The deputies I've spoken with don't trust my opponent," said Tyson.

Police chief turned television reporter for KOLO8 in Reno, Tyson, 65, faces off with Assistant Storey County Sheriff Gerald Antinoro in the Nov. 2 general election.

A resident of Storey County for the last 28 years, Tyson believes his experience in the late 1970s as a chief of police in Eureka Springs, Ark., gives him the budgeting experience to handle the Sheriff's $2.2 million budget.

He said his work as a military police officer in the Air Force, and as a decorated civilian police officer in Sonoma County and Novato, Calif., gives him the law enforcement experience necessary and his 24 years as a reporter in Northern Nevada gives him the ability to deal fairly, honestly and openly with the public and media.

"That's one of the reasons why I've already announced who my undersheriff and logistical officers will be rather than the secrecy that seems to be around the Sheriff's Office now," he said.

Tyson said if elected he will appoint retired Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Leathley as undersheriff, and former sheriff's candidate and retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Storey County officer Dave Dykstra as logistical officer.

And, he noted, while some have asked how he'll pay the two appointees with a strapped budget, Tyson said Leathley and Dykstra have both agreed to work full time for a part-time salary of $26,000 per year so as not to compromise current state retirement benefits. The current undersheriff position is paid more than $90,000.

"I'll get two people for the price of one," he said. "The thing is all three of us are not just committed to Storey County, we're invested in Storey County."

Some of his goals include:

• Implement a strict department-wide policy to treat the public with respect and professional courtesy.

• Increase citizen participation through Neighborhood Watch and Senior Outreach programs.

• Implement town-hall meetings.

• Provide professional training to enable officers to perform their duties safely and efficiently.

• Cut wasteful spending and enhance department services and performance.

"The only promises I've made is that I'm going to make this department something the people can be proud of, something people can be comfortable with and where they know that their needs are going to be met," said Tyson.