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Jim Gibbons took the oath of office at midnight, becoming
Nevada’s 29th governor. He immediately appointed
Phillip A. Galeoto director of the Department of Public Safety
and announced that Lawrence J. Martines would become director of
Homeland Security. Nevada Chief Justice A. William Maupin
administered the oath of office in the living room of Gibbons’
home in Reno, with a small gathering of Gibbons’ friends,
advisors and supporters looking on.
"Nevadans should be assured that their leaders are in
place, ready for any emergency." stated Gibbons.
"These highly experienced and qualified individuals are now on
duty to provide that assurance."
Although state agencies know of no credible threat, recent world
events and New Year’s celebrations raise the potential for
problems during Nevada’s first government transition since the
terror attacks of 9-11. Governor-elect Gibbons chose to assume
office as soon as possible to fill these key positions in state
government. Previous Department of Public Safety Director
George Togliatti resigned last month, with his resignation
taking effect at midnight. Homeland Security Director Giles
Vanderhoof’s appointment also expired at midnight, although he
will stay on the job for another three days to assist in the
transition.
“Phil Galeoto has the experience and the management skills to
build on the accomplishments of the Department of Public Safety
and make it a world-class agency that even better serves
Nevadans,”
said Governor Gibbons.
Phil Galeoto returned from the Middle East on December 24th
to be appointed as Director by Governor Gibbons. In the Middle
East in 2005-2006 on a United States Department of Justice/ICITAP
contract, Galeoto was assigned as the Director of the Baghdad
Police College, located in Baghdad, Iraq, where he was
responsible for Iraqi Police Training, academy construction, and
physical safety of the largest training academy in Iraq.
Galeoto served 24 years on the Reno Police Department, where he
retired as Lieutenant. Since his retirement, he has also served
as a police chief and a public safety director in two small
departments in the Midwest and California, in addition to
providing Community Policing training to a number of law
enforcement agencies throughout the United States under the
USDOJ community policing initiative. Galeoto is a graduate of
the FBI National Academy.
“The citizens of Nevada expect and deserve the finest, highest
level of law enforcement services possible, and I am committed
to working with the Governor and the Nevada Legislature to make
certain this mission is accomplished,”
said Galeoto. “I look forward to the challenge of this
new
assignment,
and would like to thank Governor Gibbons for placing his faith
in me when selecting me for this important and challenging
position.”
Incoming Homeland Security Director Lawrence Martines is a
worldwide consultant in counterterrorism, practicing as well as
teaching. He founded and directed the Citizen’s Homeland
Security Council through the Washoe County Sheriff’s office. He
enjoyed a 21-year career in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department and has taught security, law enforcement and
counterterrorism for more than 20 years. He has also consulted
in crisis management and counterterrorism for two decades.
Martines is vice president of the United States Section of the
International Police Association. He received his Master of
Science degree in law enforcement administration from Northern
Arizona University.
"Larry Martines has the distinguished professional background
required to be aware of potential terrorism threats,"
continued the governor. "He also has the necessary skills
to work with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies
to make our homeland security efforts more effective."
“Terrorism and homeland security are not regional concerns, but
rather statewide concerns,”
said Martines, “and we must adopt a statewide approach.
I will work with the governor and with first responders to
encourage focused teamwork and to make sure our homeland
security efforts are proactive, not reactive.”
Governor Gibbons will participate in the swearing-in of other
constitutional officers at the Nevada Supreme Court at 10:00
a.m. today, and will publicly repeat his oath at the formal
inauguration on the steps of the State Capitol at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday.
“I look forward to taking my oath in front of all Nevada in the
traditional inauguration,”
said Governor Gibbons. “But I must also protect Nevada’s
safety and security proactively, and that meant acting as
quickly as possible to fill these key positions.”
“I’m honored to be Nevada’s Governor,”
he added, “and I am happy to begin work on keeping the
promises I made to the people of Nevada.”
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