Nye County sheriff’s office leaves $91,000 in boxes collecting dust

By DOGE NEVADA

When Nevadans pay their taxes, we expect some of that money to go towards keeping us safe. That means police cars with working radios, deputies with up-to-date protective gear, and patrol tools that actually get used on the streets.

Unfortunately, that’s not what’s happening in Nye County, where nearly half of a major law enforcement purchase is still sitting on a shelf.

Expensive Cameras, Still in the Box

Back in 2021, the Nye County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) spent $198,000 on 87 infrared cameras designed to mount on top of police vehicle spotlights. These high-tech cameras allow deputies to see suspects, animals, or hazards in the dark, giving them a big advantage during nighttime patrols.

Four years later, 40 of those cameras (worth more than $91,000) have never been installed.

According to records reviewed by DOGE NEVADA, the department has only managed to install about a dozen each year. That means nearly half the patrol fleet still don’t have this tool.

Technology Doesn’t Age Well

Technology doesn’t stay cutting-edge for long. That’s the real kicker here. While these NOPTIC NV3 cameras were useful in 2021, the market has moved forward.

Three years ago, competitor NightRide came out with a better solution: an all-in-one spotlight and camera that mounts on the roof or hood, rotates 360 degrees, and includes a telephoto zoom. The price? About the same as what Nye County paid for the older model.

By stockpiling so many cameras upfront, the Sheriff’s Office essentially locked deputies into outdated gear while better tools became available. Taxpayers didn’t just lose money — they lost the chance for their deputies to have the best technology available today.

Who’s Accountable?

Some point to the procurement team for buying too many units all at once without a clear plan to install them quickly. Others blame the fleet services team for moving too slowly on installations.

Either way, it highlights a bigger problem in government spending. Nevada budgets are written on a “use it or lose it” basis every two years.

Agencies are encouraged to spend everything they’re given — even if that means buying more than they can realistically use — because if they don’t, the money might not be there next budget cycle. It’s a system that rewards stockpiling and punishes common sense.

Lessons for Nevada

Nye County isn’t the only agency that falls into this trap. Imagine if every department in Nevada left $91,000 worth of equipment sitting unused each year. Across dozens of agencies, that would add up to millions of wasted dollars — money that could be hiring police officers, repairing roads, or funding schools.

So, why were 87 cameras purchased at once? Why didn’t anyone check whether installations were keeping pace? And now that the tech is becoming obsolete, does it even make sense to finish installing the remaining 40?

A Call for Smarter Spending

To be fair, the original purchase wasn’t entirely reckless. The county did negotiate a $153,000 discount off the list price, showing at least some effort to save money. But a discount doesn’t matter if half the equipment never makes it onto patrol cars.

Conservatives have long argued that government agencies need stronger oversight and accountability. This case proves the point. Buying in bulk sounds smart, but only if the gear actually gets used. Taxpayer money should never sit idle on a warehouse shelf.

Deputies could use these tools on the road; they can’t when they’re locked up in storage. Taxpayers deserve to know their dollars are going towards something real, and not being wasted.