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Nye County approves Fall Festival with sheriff coverage amid debate over private security
Summary
The Board approved the Pahrump Fall Festival license after a contentious discussion about using private security versus paid deputy overtime; Sheriff Joe McGill said deputies can cover the event if funded and the board added funding to ensure deputy coverage.
The Nye County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional license for the townof PahrumpFall Festival after heated debate over public safety staffing.
Sheriff Joe McGill told the board that deputies can provide coverage but that overtime costs are billed to event promoters. McGill said his office initially proposed staffing that would cost about $5,926.82 for multiple days and that administrators asked him to cut that figure to $2,500, which he said reduced required coverage. "You get what you pay for," McGill said, describing private security as a visible deterrent but noting private officers "have no law enforcement authority" and cannot make arrests.
John Toll, representing the Knight County Law Enforcement Association, urged commissioners to use sworn deputies for crowd safety, saying private security "cannot enforce laws, cannot investigate crimes, and cannot make arrests." Town staff said a contract with Code 4 security had already been signed and paid; commissioners pressed for a compromise to ensure deputy presence.
The board approved the festival license with a condition that the sheriff's office be paid for four days of coverage, setting a not‑to‑exceed budget (discussed at up to $8,000) to secure the deputies the sheriff said he needs. Commissioners framed the decision as a short‑term fix and instructed staff and the sheriff to work out payment details so deputies remain available for the park and the wider community.
The board's action balances promoter funding responsibilities with the sheriff's insistence that deputies provide enforceable law enforcement on site. The board and sheriff agreed to revisit funding and staffing arrangements for future events.
The board voted to approve the condition; the motion carried (4 yes, 1 absent).
