Washoe County deputies slash types of calls they respond to

Washoe County sheriff’s deputies are cutting back on the types of calls they respond to because of budgetary constraints.

Effective immediately, patrol units will no longer be automatically dispatched to incidents where:

* Parties are already separated, except in domestic violence calls

* The suspect in no longer at the scene

* There is no evidence available at the scene

* Total loss is less than $2,500 or does not involve the loss of a firearm. The total loss figure will rise to $3,500 beginning on Oct. 1 as a result of an amendment to state law passed during the 2011 legislative session.

Because the majority of intrusion alarm responses are for false alarms, deputies will no longer respond to residential or commercial alarms unless there is additional information from a responsible party that indicates an actual crime may be in progress or has occurred.

In addition deputies will no longer automatically respond to:

* Non-injury or hit-and-run vehicle accidents and accidents that occur on private property (such as a commercial parking lot), unless one of the drivers is believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, there is an existing traffic hazard to a public roadway or if there is evidence still on the scene of an accident that occurred on a public roadway.

* Civil problems in which there is no court order directing deputies to respond.

* Graffiti, unless it is a call to an act in progress.

* Basic property crimes, such as vehicle burglaries, destruction of property, commercial burglaries, larcenies and fraud.

* Threats, unless there is a reasonable belief of a present and immediate danger.

* Juvenile problems, noise disturbances and Dumpster rummaging, in cases where the description of the incident does not arise to the level of a crime.

The public may file reports online. For further information, call (775) 328.3001.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report