Nevada taxpayers paid $16,351 more to protect dignitaries
CARSON CITY - With 10 governors of other states visiting Nevada in the past year, the state Board of Examiners was forced Tuesday to spent an extra $16,351 to provide police protection for them during their visits.
Gov. Brian Sandoval, chairman of the board, said the state gives free dignitary protection services to top federal and state officials who come to the state, even if they are in the state on personal vacations.
He added he did not see or visit with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin who visited Nevada from Dec. 30 through Jan. 1 and received 30 hours of police protection at a cost of $1,322 to Nevada taxpayers.
Her press staff did not return immediately calls inquiring about the nature of her visit. But reports in the Oklahoma press have been critical of Fallin's taking of vacations to places like Puerto Rico and Las Vegas.
Sandoval said he takes his own police protection when he visits other states, rather than relying on police in the places he visits.
The Board of Examiners had to approve the additional funds because the costs of dignitary protection far exceeded the $3,000 set aside for that purpose by the Legislature last year. Overtime payments to police officers during some of the governors' visits were as high as $60 per hour.
The cost of providing dignitary protection during Nevada visits included $2,561 for Idaho Gov. Butch Otter for four days; $1,179 for New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, four days; $851 for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, three days; $761 for Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, three days; $623 for Mississippi Gov. Barbour, two days; $737 for Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, two days; $527 for Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper, two days; and $563 for Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, one day; and $126.49 for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, three hours.
Dignitary protection also was provided during visits by four secretaries of U.S. departments, a Mexican delegation and California Assembly speaker John Perez.
Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
