Sheriff's Office

The Administrative Bureau

Administrative Division
Captain Darrin Rice
Main Phone: (775) 328-8751

The Administrative Division oversees and manages the functions, services and investigations that support all of the operational areas of the agency. This includes dispatch services, conducting backgrounds on all employees, employee training as required by the Nevada Commission on Peace Officer's Standards and Training; training for all employees in support of policies, law and best practices, and training of new recruits at the Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy held at the regional Public Safety Training Center. The Administrative Division also oversees research and development of new technology and management concepts, maintenance and trouble shooting of database systems and computer programs, and coordination of fleet services.

Administrative Services Division
Shannon Hardy, Division Manager 
Main Phone: (775) 328-3033 

The Administrative Services Division oversees and manages services provided to the general public in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes or Washoe County Code. This includes Concealed Weapons Permits, civil processes, case requests, work cards, fingerprinting, warrant information and filing of reports, either on-line or at the front desk. This Division also provides services to law enforcement personnel in the field which may include criminal information.
 
Community Engagement
Leslie Masterpool, Division Manager
Main Phone: (775) 785-6228

Information is power and empowering the public is what public safety is all about. That’s why we created the Community Engagement Office designed to communicate, collaborate and work with our community to hear their concerns, answer questions and provide relevant and timely crime prevention information.

The Community Engagement Office monitors emerging trends and works creatively with community partners, citizens and the media to mobilize efforts and resources to better protect our community. The Community Engagement Office also broadens the scope of our outreach efforts on crime prevention by exploring new ways to protect and enhance the lives of all Washoe County residents.
Making a difference in our community starts with the community. We are sharing the responsibility of making Washoe County safer by partnering with our fellow public safety agencies, and other community stakeholders, linking prevention and enforcement efforts more closely together.

We encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for practical and valuable information that can help keep you and your family safe and for you to make informed decisions. It’s also an opportunity to know more about your Sheriff’s Office: our programs, services and the partnerships we maintain within our community.

Forensic Science Division 
Director Steven Johnson
Main Phone:  (775) 328-8721
 
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office Forensic Science Division provides forensic services to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in 13 of the 17 Nevada counties encompassing over 80 agencies. The Division is a full-service forensic laboratory staffed by more than 40 individuals in sworn and civilian capacities. The staff members receive continuing education through training programs, seminars and conferences. The Division is funded by monies from Washoe County, the user agencies, and grants.  The Breath Alcohol program is supported by contract with the State of Nevada.

The Division provides investigative support with a full service crime scene unit within in the Forensic Investigation Section (FIS). The scientific disciplines range from DNA, Toxicology, Controlled Substances, and Firearms. The Breath Alcohol Section provides support for the Breath Alcohol instruments across northern and central Nevada. The Evidence Section houses all of Washoe County evidence as well as evidence submitted to the Forensic Science Division from our user agencies.
The Forensic Science Division (FSD) is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), an independent organization that establishes operating standards and monitors compliance with their standards and ISO/IEC 17025. The Washoe County Laboratory was established in the mid 1970s and has been accredited since 1994.