A Fine Example of Vanishing Lawmen, Or

The Art of Passing the Buck

There was a time in the great state of Nevada when law officers, upon hearing of a crime, would saddle up, spit in the dust, and ride toward trouble without a second thought. But alas, we live in modern times, and modern times complicate things that ought to be simple.

After being accused of abandonment by Mineral County Sheriff Bill Ferguson, the Nevada State Police responded like all well-practiced officials—with a reply so polished that it gleams with the fine art of saying much while committing to nothing. According to their missive, they are in constant communication with their law enforcement brethren and stand ever-ready to assist—provided that said brethren know the proper bureaucratic dance steps.

They acknowledge that staffing shortages and resource constraints have made things difficult but assure the public that safety remains their highest priority. And while one might assume that responding to a shooting on a state highway would fall within their purview, it seems that such assumptions are wildly outdated.

The trouble began on Highway 6, near the California border, where a truck driver, minding his own business, found himself on the wrong end of a bullet. The wound was not fatal—one of the few mercies in this tale—but when Sheriff Ferguson called upon the Nevada Highway Patrol for assistance but met an astonishing response declaring it a county matter.

Let that soak in a moment, like a rainstorm in the desert. A shooting. On a state highway. And the very agency charged with patrolling those highways declined to get involved.

One can almost hear the echoes of Ferguson’s disbelief when he asks, “Are our state highways no longer the responsibility of the state?”

Not content with being stonewalled just once, Ferguson reached out to the Nevada Division of Investigation’s Major Crimes unit, specifically tasked with helping rural agencies with complex cases. They, too, had an answer—though not a helpful one.

They being short-staffed, said, and suggested that Ferguson’s deputies handle the evidence collection themselves. One imagines the sheriff rubbing his temples in exasperation at this point.

Now, having exhausted the usual channels, Ferguson is demanding answers—though history suggests he may be waiting a long while to get them. Why does the Governor’s Office remain silent? Why does the NHP refuse to respond to violent crimes on state highways? Why is the very agency designed to assist rural counties unable to help? And, perhaps most pressing, if the State of Nevada refuses to provide services, will it at least open its purse to compensate those left to do the job alone?

The Nevada State Police are clear they are “committed to prioritizing public safety.” One can only hope that, in time, such commitment comes with a little more action and a little less well-crafted evasion.