Exclusive: Reno Police Chief, Command Staff Ousted Over Alleged Forgery of POST Training Docs 

In a stunning shakeup that has left Reno’s law enforcement community reeling, Police Chief Kathryn Nance and her entire executive command staff—five high-ranking officers—were abruptly placed on paid administrative leave on March 9, 2026, amid an independent state investigation into potential policy violations. 

Multiple sources close to the matter exclusively confirmed to the California Globe that the probe centers on allegations of forged training documents tied to mandatory Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (POST) certifications, including critical areas like firearms proficiency, mental illness response, and domestic violence intervention—trainings all, or some, of the officers reportedly never completed.

Current and former law enforcement officials were shocked at the news, telling the Globe that certification is not only required, but the alleged actions, falling under Chief Nance’s command, were entirely avoidable with proper leadership and oversight.

This unprecedented move, described by local officials as a first in Washoe County’s history, prompted the City of Reno to activate an interagency agreement with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.  

Washoe County Undersheriff Corey Solferino, a veteran with over two decades in law enforcement, was swiftly appointed as acting chief to maintain operational continuity. 

Mayor Hillary Schieve and City Manager Jackie Bryant announced the leaves during a March 9 press conference, emphasizing that the action stems from “internal administrative and compliance matters” but withholding specifics pending the Nevada Department of Public Safety’s investigation. 

“Public safety and maintaining the trust of our community are our highest priorities,” said Mayor Schieve. “When concerns are raised involving leadership in the Reno Police Department, it is our responsibility to address them thoughtfully and transparently while ensuring the safety of our residents.”

Nance, Reno’s first female police chief was appointed in January 2023 after a 25-year career with the Stockton Police Department where she rose to deputy chief, now faces scrutiny alongside her top deputies. According to public records, Nance’s salary is $275,757, or $434,983 with benefits.

The command staff’s removal has sparked widespread speculation, with Reno Police Protective Association attorney Ron Dreher confirming the five officers are not union members—indicating they hold supervisory or executive roles. 

According to Globe sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing probe, the allegations involve falsified records for POST-required trainings.

Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 289.550 mandates that all peace officers be certified by the POST Commission within one year of employment, with extensions up to six months for good cause.  

POST regulations under Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 289.200 outline rigorous basic certification standards, including a minimum 80-hour course covering topics like civil liability, constitutional law, and specific skills in abuse recognition, firearms handling, and crisis intervention. Annual continuing education requires at least 24 hours, encompassing firearms qualification, mental health crisis response, and domestic violence protocols. 

This is directly related to POST certification compliance,” one insider told the Globe. “We’re talking about gun training, mental illness training, domestic violence training—they reportedly didn’t get some or any of this. Documents were allegedly forged to show completion, but the records don’t hold up.”

The potential ramifications are severe.

Forging POST-related documents is treated as serious misconduct: it almost certainly results in decertification(ending the career), potential felony charges (prison time and fines), and broad civil/professional fallout. The exact classification depends on intent, the documents involved, and prosecutorial discretion, but Nevada law views such falsification harshly to protect certification integrity.

Interim Chief Solferino addressed the community in a March 12 press conference, reassuring residents that daily operations remain unaffected.  “This is an active investigation, and we’re committed to transparency within legal bounds,” he stated, adding:

“I think it’s that legitimacy piece. We can say accountability all day long. We can say transparency all day long, but if we don’t have the trust of our public through engagement and actions, then our Police Department is not worthwhile. We have to earn that public trust, we have to have that public legitimacy piece and ensure that when the public calls for service that they understand we’re coming and that they are happy with our responses.”

The city has stressed that administrative leave does not imply guilt, and all involved are entitled to due process. 

The Globe will continue to monitor developments in this exclusive story.