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Sheriff’s office reports rises in domestic violence and suicide-related calls; board weighs 988 outreach
Summary
Undersheriff Brian Ames reported increases in domestic-violence calls (approaching 400 in 2025) and suicide-related calls (about 145), discussed response challenges and recommended boosting 988 awareness; staff noted state public-health funds could pay for outreach.
The Elko County Sheriff’s Office told the county commission its domestic-violence and suicide-related calls rose in 2025, prompting discussion of crisis-response changes and public-awareness efforts.
Undersheriff Brian Ames told commissioners that calls for domestic violence are "getting up close to 400" for 2025 and that suicidal/mental-health calls have risen as well. "We unfortunately had 3 suicides over the last few days just here," Ames said, urging community members who need help to reach out to resources. He described deputies’ current tactics for non-imminent threats — staging outside, attempting phone contact, and providing texted resource links and cards deputies carry.
Commissioners pressed for data on trends and outcomes. Ames gave year-to-year context: domestic-violence calls rose from 359 in 2023 to 381 in 2024 and were at 379 as of the November reporting cut; the sheriff’s office expects domestic calls to increase roughly 15 calls year-over-year and indicated suicide-related calls have climbed back toward 145 in 2025 after a dip. He said the department will provide more granular percentages and breakdowns in future reports.
Board members and staff discussed whether to invest in public-awareness advertising encouraging use of the 988 suicide and crisis hotline. A staff member recommended using state public-health funds already appropriated to the county for 988 outreach and suggested such spending would be an appropriate budget priority if the board wants to proceed.
Commissioners also asked whether social workers could be embedded with deputies. Ames said geography and staffing make ride-along programs more difficult in Elko County’s large, rural territory, though the department continues to discuss options to connect callers with services earlier in the process.
The commission did not take an immediate funding vote but asked staff to consider options for 988 public-awareness spending during budget planning and to return with more detailed data.
