Pahrump fall festival approved after debate over private security, deputies and funding

The Nye County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved the Town of Pahrump's fall-festival outdoor license and added a condition that the sheriff's office be paid for deputy coverage for the full event days. The board's action came after two hours of public comment and a sharp exchange between the county's management team and local law enforcement over the use of private security at the event.Pahrump law-enforcement advocates and the county sheriff warned commissioners that private security companies lack arrest powers and can only stabilize incidents until deputies respond. John Toll, president of the Nye County Law Enforcement Association, told the board that hiring private security in place of sworn deputies creates delays and a potentially false sense of safety. "Why rely on security who at best walk around and look visible, but in…