Public Safety & Civil Rights
Fire Service Regionalization
A regional fire service could create a unified, efficient, and effective emergency response for everyone in the Truckee Meadows.
Where would the savings come from? From unity. Right now the region operates with three departments, three fire chiefs, three leadership teams, three training divisions, three heavy diesel shops, etc. - all doing similar work separately. A consolidated system could reduce excessive redundancy and make better use of taxpayer dollars.
How would it be funded? That’s the key question. Would it require a new tax, or could it be supported by reallocating resources from the existing Sparks, Reno, and Washoe County budgets?
What’s clear is that the current system isn’t sustainable. Every decision we make should put people first - and a regional fire service could bring greater consistency, faster response times, and a stronger, more resilient emergency network for the Truckee Meadows, the City of Sparks, and Ward 2.
Sparks Fire Staffing
While discussions about regionalizing our fire service continues, we can’t afford to wait to make improvements. The City of Sparks needs to increase fire staffing now - not someday. Lives and property depend on it.
Whether regionalization moves forward or not, we must ensure that Sparks Fire Station 5 remains open and fully staffed. Closing or "browning out" a station doesn’t just inconvenience neighborhoods - it slows response times, puts Sparks residents and firefighters at risk, and strains the entire system.
A well-staffed department is the foundation of public safety. Until we have a regional plan in place - if we ever do - we must prioritize staffing levels, equipment, and coverage within our own city. Keeping Station 5 open is about keeping Sparks safe.
Sparks Fire Cost Recovery
The proposed Sparks Fire First Responder Fee has raised understandable concerns, and I want to be clear about where I stand. I support the fee IF and ONLY IF Sparks residents are not billed for any remaining balance after insurance.
Many of us already pay for First Responder Fees through our insurance premiums - and most other jurisdictions already bill fees like this directly to insurance companies. This is not a fee for calling 911. It’s a reimbursement for the expensive medical supplies firefighters use on scene - things like c-collars, air splints, and medications that are necessary to save lives.
Sparks shouldn’t have to absorb those costs, and residents shouldn’t be double-billed for them. The goal should be to recover legitimate expenses through insurance, not to create another burden for the people of Sparks.
Sparks Police Staffing
Public safety begins with having enough officers to respond when and where they’re needed. Right now, there are times when fewer than five officers are tasked with covering the entire City of Sparks. That’s not just unacceptable - it’s unsafe for both our community and our officers.
We can’t expect our police department to maintain a high standard of service while relying on dangerous levels of overtime. Overworked officers face fatigue, slower response times, and greater risk on the job. The people of Sparks deserve a department that’s fully staffed, well-supported, and equipped to keep every neighborhood safe.
Investing in adequate staffing isn’t optional - it’s essential to protecting our community and the officers who serve it.
Drone as First Responder Expansion
The Drone as a First Responder program has proven to be a success in Sparks. Drones are helping first responders reach scenes faster, assess situations more safely, and make better-informed decisions before units even arrive.
It’s time to build on that success. Expanding drone coverage to more parts of the city means faster response times, improved situational awareness, and more positive outcomes for both first responders and residents of Sparks and Ward 2.
Innovation like this helps stretch our resources further while keeping Sparks safe. Let’s continue to invest in technology that works - and make sure every neighborhood benefits from it.
Technology Use Audit
Technology like ShotSpotter and Flock Safety cameras can support public safety, but only if they’re used responsibly, audited regularly, and governed by strong policies that prevent misuse. The ACLU has raised legitimate concerns about how this data can be abused or shared beyond its intended purpose, which is why transparency, strict access limits, and clear oversight are essential.
These systems are also expensive, and taxpayers deserve to know they’re getting real value. We need to audit both the tools and the contracts to ensure they protect civil rights, deliver measurable results, and meet the same standards of accountability we expect throughout government.