Reno Cop Watch

07/25/2026

07/23/2026

Former Mineral County Sheriff turned whistleblower, Stewart Handte’s live interview with Auditing Reno 911.

Federal District Judge Hicks was killed crossing a street in front ...

07/22/2026

Deputy (& sheriff elect) Michael Tulipat’s credibility keeps unraveling. His public resignation announcement claims he is stepping down to “focus on the massive responsibility ahead,”

Is it true the Honorable Discharge medal he shows off wasn’t issued by the Marine Corps? But it’s a $18.99 customizable novelty item from a website that prints whatever text you submit with no verification, no authentication, and nothing official. Was he actually given a general discharge for personality disorder? It fits the same pattern as the fake background checks Esmeralda County paid Greg Rentchler for Dondero’s neighbor, fundraiser, and close friend, who billed taxpayers for investigations POST later flagged as illegitimate. Tulipat was hired without a real background check, without a psychological exam, and without a polygraph, and the POST auditor explicitly told Sheriff Melendez to relieve unqualified deputies of duty, yet the same deputies stayed.

Screenshots now show Tulipat chatting with Justice of the Peace Danielle Johnson, a figure long accused by residents of accessing and sharing private medical information, including workers’ comp records, and of keeping and distributing disturbing photos taken while she worked as an EMT.

Their social media exchange casual talk about payouts, embezzlement, and insider banter highlights exactly why people in Esmeralda County have raised concerns about a courthouse network that protects itself while leaking private information about the public.

Stolen valor, fake vetting, and a judge tied to sharing confidential records… is this the system Esmeralda County that residents are expected to trust?

07/20/2026

The Thin Blue Line is nothing but a gang sign…

07/20/2026

Per Our Town Reno “Lance Tindell, 44, of Reno, died on 07/18/2026,” the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office wrote to Our Town Reno today.

“His cause and manner of death are pending further investigation and laboratory testing.”

This follows police gatherings and processions in the past few days and indications that a police officer had recently died, without mentioning who or how.

We (OurTown Reno) had encountered Lance Tindell during our own reporting on June 3rd, 2020, during the pandemic, when coffee cup in hand he had walked inches from us repeatedly during an encampment sweep underneath Wells Avenue, while we were taking photos and bearing witness to what was going on, eventually forcing us to leave the area.

Tindell was also a member of the Repeat Offender Program and was present in 2022 when WCSO Deputy Paul Hubbell smashed James Brooks, a handcuffed man in the face with an AR.

07/19/2026

In addition to the huge police presence by the coroner’s office last night there were also many police vehicles earlier in the day at Renown. “It is with profound sadness that we stand today with our brothers and sisters of the Reno Police Department,” the Reno Firefighters Association wrote today. “One death in a department is difficult, but three within a year is crushing. We are here for you and we have your backs.” The name or manner of death of this latest officer reported to have died have yet to be publicly released.

07/19/2026

A community member shared video with us showing an encounter with NSP and a Washoe County Sheriff’s deputy.

The man was already pulled over, parked on the side of the road, and never drove at any point during the incident. While he was sitting there, Nevada State Police (NSP) conducted a traffic stop on a completely different vehicle. After finishing that stop the NSP officer then walked over to the parked community member’s vehicle and demanded identification.

The man was not driving. No crime had been committed. No reasonable suspicion and therefore no lawful requirement to provide ID.

The community member stood firmly on his rights, as he is entitled to do. This is where the video shows a stark contrast in policing behavior.

Washoe County Deputy Ketcham arrived and handled the situation with professionalism and respect. He didn’t escalate or posture He didn’t treat the man like a suspect. He simply asked what was going on and even offered help with fixing the vehicle actual community policing, grounded in service rather than control.

But instead of following that example, the NSP officer chose to flex authority that didn’t exist. He pushed for ID without legal grounds, turning a peaceful, parked‑car situation into an unnecessary confrontation.

This is exactly why community documentation matters. The NSP officer failed to activate his BWC.
When one officer on scene can respect rights and treat people with dignity, there is no excuse for another officer to escalate a non incident into a power struggle.

The public deserves to see how policing culture can differ dramatically between agencies and even between officers standing on the same scene.

07/19/2026

Former Esmeralda County Sheriff Nicholas Dondero has filed a frivolous federal lawsuit- a weak attempt to rewrite history and waste taxpayer money.

The Nevada Supreme Court removed him. Not POST. Not NV Attorney General Aaron Ford. The state’s highest court determined he was never legally qualified to serve because of his domestic violence conviction.

Dondero keeps proclaiming his innocence, but the record is public. He took a no‑contest plea. He never went before a jury. He never proved anything.

Under Nevada law, a no contest plea is a conviction. That conviction disqualified him from holding office. Period.

Now he’s suing the state claiming civil rights violations because accountability finally caught up with him. It’s a waste of court time, public money, and the patience of every Nevadan who expects basic integrity from law enforcement.

Sadly Esmeralda county’s problems don’t end with Nicholas Dondero.

Michael Tulipat the newly elected sheriff has openly aligned himself with Dondero and promised to continue his legacy. Residents have already seen what that legacy consists of. Unqualified hires , intimidation of community members, and transparency & accountability are lacking.

Dondero’s lawsuit won’t erase his conviction. Tulipat’s election won’t erase the corruption he’s chosen to inherit.

The community deserves a sheriff’s office that serves the people not one built on Dondero’s failed legacy