Lovelock looking for new police chief

Police Chief Mike Murrell has quit his job to become a Nye County deputy sheriff.

Murrell cited Mayor Ray Espinoza's lack of backing as a prime factor in his decision to step down.

"I don't believe I have the support and confidence of the mayor," he told the Lovelock Review-Miner.

The mayor denied there was any bad blood between the two.

"There were some issues that arose about the chief about two and a half months ago that disturbed (me) as far as his conduct," Espinoza said. "However, they were issues that could have been resolved."

Neither Murrell nor Espinoza would elaborate.

Murrell served as police chief exactly one year before his Sept. 4 departure. He replaced Frank Hodge, who was fired by Espinoza in March 1997.

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