President of NHP union relieved of police duties

Ed Koch and Cy Ryan

Friday, Dec. 28, 2001 | 10:36 a.m.

The president of the Nevada Highway Patrolman's union has been relieved of law enforcement duties pending an internal investigation into misconduct allegations.

Union officials, however, call the move against Stewart Handte, an 18-year veteran of the Nevada Highway Patrol who patrols Washoe County, "ludicrous" and say it is retaliation for complaints he made to high-ranking state officials about the Department of Public Safety.

Handte was placed on paid administrative leave Christmas Eve. He was relieved of his gun, his badge and patrol car, officials said.

He is accused of disseminating confidential documents regarding 41 troopers who have had complaints levied against them with Internal Affairs and of spreading the rumor that Dick Kirkland, director of the state Department of Public Safety, is resigning after the first of the year.

Handte also is said to have left a diner with three other patrolmen, one of whom didn't pay his bill.

Handte denied the allegations about the confidential records and spreading any rumors, but refused to comment further on those issues. Handte said the diner incident was a mistake and the officer returned later to pay the bill. He said two other officers were placed on administrative leave for the same incident.

Gary Wolff, business agent for the Teamsters Local 14, which represents the patrolmen, said the action against Handte stems from Handte meeting with the governor and attorney general to discuss what he felt were problems within the Department of Public Safety.

"Ever since then, Stewart Handte has been a target, which goes against the state's whistle-blowers law," Wolff said. "I was a police officer for 31 years and this is ludicrous. The union will do everything within its power to protect his rights. And he has retained private counsel as well."

The Department of Public Safety said it cannot comment because both the Nevada Administrative Code and Nevada Revised Statures prohibit the agency from discussing personnel matters.