About

During his tenure at Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Balaam developed unique strategies to address regional crime issues within Washoe County. They include the development of the Northern Nevada Regional Intelligence Center, the Regional Tactical Crime Analysis Report, and the Area Crime Evaluation System. These strategies, and others, while being forward-thinking solutions to the area’s crime conditions, demonstrated rigorous fiscal responsibility by remaining well within their assigned budget constraints. 

DARIN BALAAM COMMANDED:

  • Special weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT)
  • Detention Response Team (DRT)
  • Hostage Negotiation Team 
  • Regional Bomb Squad
  • Search and Rescue
  • K9 Unit
  • Detectives 

AND:

  • Member of the first Regional Gang Unit
  • Managed multiple Officer Involved Shootings both within Washoe County and outside the County. 
  • Part of a multi-state investigation team that investigated convicted serial killer Joseph Naso. 
  • Supervised the Northern Nevada Regional Intelligence Center

Education

Balaam attended the University of Nevada Reno, graduating in 2011 with a BS in Criminal Justice. In 2015, he earned his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration at the University of Louisville. Additionally, he is a 2006 graduate of the FBI’s Southwest Command College, and completed the University of Louisville’s Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officer’s Course in 2012.  He also is a graduate of Leadership Reno Sparks program in 2014..

Community Involvement

Over the course of his career, Balaam has received several appointments to statewide law-enforcement leadership positions:

  • Nevada Crime Commission – appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval in 2014.
  • Nevada Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) – appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval in 2013.
  • Technological Crime Advisory Board ¬– appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval in 2012.
  • Domestic Violence Fatality Review Statewide Team ¬– appointed by Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto in 2013.

Balaam is also active in several community organizations, including: 

  • KNPB Chair of Citizen Advisory Board
  • Join Together Northern Nevada’s Board Member
  • The Chamber NV Executive Committee Member Leadership Reno Sparks 
  • Northern Nevada Children’s Cabinet’s Art of Childhood Committee Member
  • Safe and Healthy Schools Commission Board Member

 

Paid for by Friends of Darin Balaam