Missing headstones prompt changes at veterans agency

By Jean Reid Norman

Friday, April 24, 2009 | 6:59 p.m.

The Nevada Office of Veterans Services is tightening oversight of the disposal of surplus items after headstones from the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City reportedly ended up being used to build a patio.

Under guidelines announced today, top administrators at the state’s two veterans cemeteries will be required to document the disposal of all headstones, spokesman Bill DiBenedetto said. The paperwork will be reviewed by the executive director.

Executive Director Timothy Tetz will document disposal of surplus materials for all other offices in the agency.

The Office of Veterans Services has added to its policy on state veterans cemeteries a section that says all unusable headstones remain the property of the federal government, and those that “are permanently removed from a grave for any purpose must be destroyed,” according to a statement from the agency that oversees the cemeteries and veterans home.

The Office of Veterans Services and the attorney general’s office launched investigations after KLAS-TV Channel 8 reported that 77 headstones set aside for disposal had been used to build a patio at the Boulder City home of cemetery employee Kevin Jenicke and his wife, Tami, who works at the veterans home.

Tetz said he received copies of the findings of the internal investigation and “actions will be carried out as allowed by the state’s progressive disciplinary policy.” The statement said the agency would make no further comment about disciplinary action.

Earlier this week, Tami Jenicke declined to comment about the situation, saying she had been asked by the Office of Veterans Services not to talk to the media.

“This unfortunate incident should not define who we are, Tetz said. “Our agency, of over 200 employees, is truly dedicated to serving America’s heroes. They have been devastated in this matter, and I share in that feeling.”

All of the headstones have been returned, said DiBenedetto, who declined to say how the headstones were removed or which private residence they had been taken to. The headstones were to be disposed of because they contained incorrect or incomplete information, he said.

He said the attorney general’s investigation was continuing. He did not know when that investigation would be concluded.

Correction: This story has been updated with information correcting how the Nevada Office of Veterans Services will track the disposal of headstones and that the agency has instituted a new policy.