04/21/2026
Our Community Needs Wes Duncan as District Attorney
Local law enforcement associations respect the opinions of three long-retired chiefs and sheriffs who have recently spoken on this race. They have served this community, and their voices matter. However, it is equally important for the public to hear from those of us actively doing the job today. Every day, we are on the streets responding to calls, making arrests, and seeing firsthand how policies impact public safety. From that perspective, our collective memberships stand united in support of Wes Duncan for District Attorney.
This position does not come lightly. Many of us have worked alongside Chris Hicks and once considered him a partner in public safety. But after years of raising concerns and seeing little change, we feel a responsibility to speak clearly. One of our primary concerns is the need for accountability and presence within the District Attorney’s Office. Public safety requires coordination and communication, and that starts with having staff fully present and engaged in the office.
We are also increasingly frustrated with how bail decisions are handled. Too often, repeat and violent offenders are released back into the community. While we understand the legal framework, including the Valdez-Jimenez decision, it should not be used as a blanket justification for outcomes that put public safety at risk. Our community deserves a system that prioritizes keeping dangerous individuals off the streets.
Additionally, there has been a shift in expectations placed on police officers that undermines the justice process. Requiring officers to build cases to a “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard at the report stage is not how the system is designed to function. Our role is to establish probable cause, and it is the responsibility of the District Attorney’s Office to prosecute those cases. Under the current approach, we are seeing serious felony cases declined, leaving victims without justice.
We are also concerned about leadership and judgment within the office. Recent attention to nepotism and a formal ethics complaint related to the employment of a spouse raises serious questions about maintaining the public’s trust. The District Attorney’s Office is a public trust, not a family business. It must operate with transparency, fairness, and accountability at all times, and anything that undermines that trust affects the entire system.
Washoe County is growing rapidly, and the challenges we face are becoming more complex. Crime, homelessness, and public safety demands require strong leadership and a clear commitment to action. For those reasons, our combined membership is united in supporting Wes Duncan. This is not about politics—it is about ensuring our community has a District Attorney who will stand with law enforcement, uphold accountability, and protect the public.
From those of us actively serving today, the message is clear: it is time for a change.
