Bill would require sheriff to have degree
By Erin Neff
<erin@lasvegassun.com> LAS VEGAS SUN
CARSON CITY -- A bill designed to close a loophole for the registrar of voters could end
up keeping many folks from running for sheriff in Clark County.
Assembly Bill 114, submitted as a response to an elections dispute last year over a
20-year-old constable candidate in Henderson, would require candidates for sheriff or
constable to have reached the age of 21 on the date they would take office.
But Metro Police Lt. Stan Olsen has asked for an amendment to require a four-year college
degree from an accredited college or university, a proposal that also has roots in last
year's elections.
Olsen works for Sheriff Bill Young, who faced tough competition last November from veteran
Metro Capt. Randy Oaks, had a degree from an unaccredited college.
"We believe that in Clark County and Washoe County, the type of law enforcement is
more and more complex," Olsen said. "We feel it's time to put a requirement on
these jobs."
Oaks' degree from Bienville University became an issue when the Internet school was
closed.
But some Assembly Government Affairs Committee members expressed concerns about forcing
sheriff's candidates to have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.
"I totally disagree with an education degree for law enforcement," Assemblyman
Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, said. "There's nothing wrong with a qualified elector
making that decision.'
Olsen responded that Metro is a large professional operation to run, involving nearly
4,300 employees.
Assemblyman Bob McCleary, D-North Las Vegas, said it would be unfair to require a degree
for sheriff, when there is no such requirement for the state's chief executive, the
governor.
"Somebody who's smart enough to get elected is smart enough to run the agency,"
McCleary said.
Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said the only county office requiring a
degree is district attorney, which requires a law degree.
Olsen never mentioned Oaks by name but was asked if anyone would have been disqualified by
such a law.
"There was one individual," Olsen said, describing the Bienville degree.
"It became a national news story."
Oaks said this morning he opposed the college degree requirement.
"A person needs to have some direct law enforcement experience," Oaks said.
"I clearly would disagree that a college degree from an accredited university is
needed.
"To me, you'd be hard-pressed to draw a direct corollary between a degree and the
requirements of the sheriff's job."
Clark County also offered an amendment requiring candidates for constable to be certified
as peace officers at the time they file for office.
Clark County officials were responding to a case involving Henderson constable candidate
Nicholas Hansen, who was removed from the ballot because he was only 20 years on Election
Day. The Nevada Supreme Court overturned that decision and placed Hansen back on the
ballot, but Hansen lost.
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