A Washoe County sheriff's office sergeant told the Spanish Springs Citizens Advisory Board that deputies have stepped up traffic enforcement and urged residents to report target shooting and illegal dumping after public comments and local reports about unsafe shooting and trash in nearby public lands.

The sergeant, identified in the meeting as Sergeant Whitvar, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, said the department recorded 22 DUI incidents in the most recent month and made 21 arrests. He also told residents the office made 35 arrests on drug offenses and four arrests tied to burglary incidents, while responding to 18 burglary calls in the same period.

The warning came after resident Dan Roth described repeated unsafe target shooting on Bureau of Land Management property at Spanish Springs Canyon and near Golden Eagle Park. “The area's basically been trashed by target shooters,” Roth said, describing trash, ricocheting bullets and people shooting across trails and roads.

Why it matters: residents and park users are encountering unsafe shooting behavior and extensive illegal dumping on public land that adjoins populated areas and recreation sites, and local law enforcement says more reporting by the public will improve enforcement.

Sheriff's guidance and enforcement: Sergeant Whitvar said deputies are focusing on proactive traffic and DUI enforcement and encouraged people to call when they see active illegal dumping or dangerous shooting. He advised people to document incidents with photos or license plates and, where possible, sign reports if they witnessed crimes in person. “The shooting across roadways, 100% illegal,” Sergeant Whitvar said. He said shooting must be at least 1,000 feet from any occupied dwelling or structure.

On illegal dumping, the sergeant said citizens should call the nonemergency number if dumping is in progress; deputies can sometimes locate and cite or require cleanup by the responsible party. He told residents that video evidence helps investigators and prosecutors and urged neighborhood cooperation in reporting crimes.

Public comments and examples: Dan Roth, a Spanish Springs resident, said he has found trash and debris spread across trails and close to new homes and softball fields. “There's trash all over the bike trail,” Roth said, adding that he has heard bullets ricochet near riders. He urged limits on shooting near populated recreation areas.

Local coordination: presenters at the meeting asked residents to use official reporting tools — the nonemergency line and available app or online reporting forms — to provide photos, descriptions and license-plate numbers. The sergeant and board members said tribal police, BLM rangers and county deputies coordinate on enforcement where jurisdictions overlap.

Ending: Board members and the sheriff's representative urged residents to report active incidents when they occur and to provide as much identifying information as possible so deputies and partner agencies can investigate and pursue enforcement.