Director, union agree not to talk in public

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Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002 | 10:02 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Richard Kirkland, director of the state Department of Public Safety, and the union that represents Nevada Highway Patrol troopers have agreed to stop airing their dirty laundry in public.

Kirkland and the Nevada Highway Patrol Association issued joint statements Wednesday that they will discuss their grievances in private in an effort to work out their differences.

Kirkland in December put Stewart Handte, the president of the association, on administrative leave with pay, on grounds he leaked confidential information, spread rumors that Kirkland was resigning and was involved in a controversy about an unpaid bill by another trooper.

The director has also started questioning troopers to find out who was spreading rumors he was quitting his $103,000-a-year job. He said Wednesday he was not resigning.

The two sides met this week and Kirkland said, "Everyone at the table agrees that discussing these issues in the media is neither productive or appropriate."