Washoe County Sheriff Michael Haley said he is being forced to immediately eliminate graffiti investigations conducted by his office due to budget cuts instigated by the Board of Commissioners.

“This action is counter-intuitive to the philosophy of my office and staff and was made only after careful analysis of the impact of the board’s reductions on our operations,” Haley said in a press release.

Sheriff’s support specialists who had been dedicated full time to documenting graffiti incidents and violators will be re-assigned. A deputy who was dedicated to full-time investigation and enforcement of graffiti reports will move to patrol.

Allowed to continue is the graffiti abatement efforts using inmate and community service work crews.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report