Kerfuffle between Reno police, Washoe sheriff leads to ethics complaint

Reno Police Chief Jason Soto is facing an ethics complaint and one of his deputy chiefs is under an internal affairs investigation after a dispute with Washoe County Sheriff Chuck Allen over whether a Reno mayoral candidate should have been allowed to speak at an event honoring fallen police officers earlier this month.

According to the ethics complaint filed by an anonymous employee of the Reno Police Department, Soto decided that mayoral candidate Eddie Lorton shouldn't be allowed to speak at the Turn the Arch Blue event in downtown Reno on May 1. Lorton has been funding the event since 2010 and has spoken at each previous event.

The ethics complaint, filed with the Nevada Commission on Ethics, claims Soto denied Lorton a turn at the podium because he supports Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, who was instrumental in his appointment as chief of police.

"It is concerning that on-duty police personnel in uniform would attempt (to) use their official positions to stifle the First Amendment speaking rights of a mayoral candidate," the complaint reads. "Chief Soto, who came into service during current mayor Hillary Schieve's tenure, would clearly have a vested interest in preventing any candidate from ousting Mayor Schieve in the coming election."

In an interview with the Reno Gazette Journal, Soto said he decided early on that only police chiefs and sheriffs should address the crowd, including himself, Sparks Police Chief Brian Allen and Washoe County Sheriff Chuck Allen. He said his decision wasn't aimed at Lorton, rather he didn't want any private citizens or politicians speaking.

"I really just wanted to keep it about the families (of the fallen police officers) and didn't want it to be political," Soto said. "I think there is a time and place for politics and it's not when we are honoring our fallen officers."

Schieve, who was in the audience, made a few brief remarks, but did not take the podium, according to a Reno Gazette Journal photographer who attended the event.

But when it came time for Sheriff Chuck Allen to address the crowd, Allen decided Lorton should be given an opportunity at the microphone and asked him up to the stage.

"Due to the fact that the city of Reno did not or would not recognize Eddie Lorton for his generous donation of blue light bulbs for the Reno Arch this year, although they have in past years, I, as sheriff of Washoe County, recognized him as a local businessman and true friend of law enforcement, and thanked him publicly for his contributions at the event that evening," Allen said in a written statement given to the Reno Gazette Journal late Friday.

After the event, Reno Police Deputy Chief Tom Robinson confronted Allen about defying Soto's orders that only law enforcement personnel be allowed to speak. The two engaged in a verbal altercation, Soto said.

Allen later complained to Soto about Robinson's behavior and Soto agreed to initiate an internal affairs investigation into whether Robinson engaged in conduct that's unbecoming of a police officer, Soto said.

"I don’t think it was a threatening," Soto said of Robinson's exchange with Allen. "It was a back and forth about (how) it should be about the families and the fallen officers."

Robinson confirmed he is the subject of an internal affairs investigation but said he can't comment on the incident.

"I've been ordered not to talk about it," he said, adding he would comment once the investigation is complete.

Allen also refused to provide details about his interaction with Robinson.

"You might want to ask him or Chief Soto about that interaction and then I will address any false information or statements if needed," Allen said.

Reached by phone, Lorton was clearly distressed by the ethics complaint filed against Soto and said he had "nothing to do with it."

"This thing, you know, is close to my heart," Lorton said of the event.

Lorton began funding the blue light bulbs in 2010 at the request of Linda Bohach, whose husband, Officer John Bohach, was killed in a shootout in 2001.

"This is about the officers and their families," Lorton said. "I don't want to make it look bad for the fallen officers' families."

"I don't want to bring disgrace on such a wonderful event," he added.

Lorton, however, said he believes city officials "colluded" to prevent him from speaking at the event. He added he would have rather kept the incident private.

Soto said no one asked him to prevent Lorton from speaking. He said he is disappointed by the entire incident.

"I think it's pretty sad, to be honest with you," Soto said.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Schieve spoke briefly at the event.