Reno police head to Ukraine for 2-month training mission

Five Reno police officers have been sent to the Ukraine to help train the force in Kiev in community policing techniques through a Department of Justice program aimed at assisting police forces in emerging democracies.

The Reno Police Department is the first police department in the United States to be selected for such a mission, Chief Steve Pitts wrote in a memo to the City Council.

While the assignment is prestigious, some council members were concerned that they weren't kept in the loop on such a big mission. The first Reno Councilman David Bobzien learned of the mission was in a memo that landed in his inbox while the officers were already en route to Kiev.

"We are in a resource constrained environment when it comes to public safety," Bobzien said. "If something like this is to progress, council needs to know there is no impact on services."

Mayor Hillary Schieve voiced a similar concern about the impact on the city's police operations.

Bobzien said he has a series of questions he'd like the police chief to answer regarding the officers' safety in the conflict-ridden country, the impact on services and why the council wasn't told of the mission sooner.

Pitts said his department conducted a thorough analysis of how the officers' absence would affect the department. He also said the Department of Justice ensures the officers will be in a "somewhat protected environment and safe."

"All of that was discussed and in place," Pitts said. "And the officers that were selected volunteered to participate."

The officers who went to Ukraine comprise the majority of the department's training division, meaning daily patrols won't be affected. Pitts said the department rearranged its training schedule to accommodate their deployment to Ukraine.

"This is a great opportunity for the Reno Police Department," he said. "We are nationally and internationally recognized and that's how we were asked to participate. I think it's an honor to our people who will do a fantastic job."

Bobzien said he recognizes and supports the value such a mission. He just would've liked to have been kept in the loop.

"This seems to be a pretty significant program that relates to staff time and resources," Bobzien said. "Why wasn't the council engaged in that discussion?"

Pitts said he respects Bobzien's viewpoint, but pointed out that officers are sent on training details regularly.

"We launch people all over the country all the time and we've never asked for council permission," Pitts said. "I'm not trying to be disrespectful by any means, but I spent two to three years on the road with the police officer training program and don't think there was even a council (memo)."

The Department of Justice is footing the entire bill for the mission, Pitts said.

The police department was identified as a potential participant because of Pitts' relationship with former Reno Assistant Chief Ron Glensor, who is an adviser to the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program Regional Project Office in Kiev.