There's a new person calling shots for the Reno Police Department.
Former Washoe County Undersheriff, Corey Solferino was appointed unanimously to be the next Reno Police Chief.
This decision comes after former Chief Kathryn Nance and two assistant chiefs were terminated while the department is being investigated by the state.
Nance was appointed in 2023.
Solferino opened himself up to press for one-on-one opportunities to ask about how he best fits the position and what his next steps are.
"Establishing our leadership team, obviously looking at all the positions, looking at who we can promote within, looking at what we can do collectively," Chief Solferino said. "That's the first priority."
The next steps after that include working on the budget. Solferino says he wants to do more with less, among other things.
"I want to put a lot of that data forward facing," the chief said. "That was something that was successful with the sheriff's office and I think we want to do the same thing here too. So, when people have questions or those frequently asked questions are already forward facing, our policy manuals already published, and that's what I want to work on."
In March, when Solferino was acting chief for the department, he didn't know he would be changing his uniform for the foreseeable future.
"It took me almost 12 briefings to get in to see everybody," he said. "I don't like managing by email, but it's hard to spread messages with a department of this size without physically getting into all that meeting and space. And one of our young officers asked me that, like night three and said, you know, if they gave you, if they offered you the job, would you take it? And I was not ready for that answer."
However, the chief says as the reality started to set in, it was too hard to pass up.
"I kind of took a collective pause and looked back and said, how can you say no," Solferino said. "How do you say no to the opportunity to to lead a team to affect change? I mean, when you work through, a law enforcement career of almost 27 years and you start promoting through the ranks and you attain the executive level positions, you always want to get to that position where you can affect change and you can't be told no."
Those entire 27 years were spent with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. He says moving to this new department has one main difference.
"A majority of our budget and a majority of what we do is the housing and detaining of inmates and that 1,200 of that average daily population over there," Solferino said. "So, not having that piece over here and answering the calls for service, meeting more with the community and working along with the community partners that's what's amazing.
Solferino was one of the front runners when Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam ultimately retires.
So, we asked if there is still interest in that position in the future.
"The sheriff and I have an awesome relationship," Solferino said. "He's a mentor. He's, you know, a father figure to me and as long as he's the sheriff, that isn't even in the cards. I have always wanted to make sure that we're supporting working collaboratively. This gives us an opportunity to work across the aisle together, and I'll continue to do that."
The rumor mill is starting to spin that this could be the start of a possible consolidation of agencies with Washoe and Reno.
The chief says these talks and rumors have gone on for decades.
"Whether or not we ever get to that is, you know, to be determined, but we will continue to work regionally across all jurisdictions because we are stronger together than we are apart."
Solferino says he understands the public may have some trust issues, but stresses the chief is separate from the people on the front lines.
"I think they just need to trust the men and women of the Reno Police Department. That has not changed. You know, who's running the department is more of a political figurehead. They're collaborating with city council. They're collaborating with management. They're managing budgets. They're going to meeting. They're meeting with stakeholders. They're pushing their initiatives down to the rank and the in the line..."
"The men and women continue to do that call and continue to answer it for 11 weeks. That has not stopped and it won't stop."
There's a new person calling the shots for the Reno Police Department. Former Washoe County undersheriff Corey solferino talked to 2 News Nevada's Jaden Urban.
