Chris Hicks Says He Strengthened Public Trust. Many Are Still Waiting for the Records.

Picon plans on resubmitting all our Public Records requests we submitted and were denied records from Hicks office once Wes Duncan is sworn in. We can’t wait to learn why Hicks refused our record requsts. Hicks was the least transparent District Attorney protecting the county, sheriff, and his pals.

Following his election loss to Wes Duncan, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks released a gracious statement reflecting on his 24-year career in public service and his eleven and a half years as District Attorney.

In the statement, Hicks said his office "embraced innovation" and "strengthened public trust in the justice system."

That's an interesting claim.

Hick’s statement.

Because for many members of the public, journalists, and government watchdogs, the Hicks administration became synonymous with something else: a growing lack of transparency.

Over the past several years, members of the media repeatedly complained about difficulties obtaining public records, securing interviews, and getting answers to basic questions involving the operations of the District Attorney's Office. Critics argued that the office became increasingly insulated from public scrutiny.

The issue extended beyond the District Attorney's Office itself. During Hicks' tenure, access to law enforcement records and body camera footage became a growing point of contention throughout Washoe County. While the District Attorney's Office was often quick to speak publicly when it highlighted a successful prosecution, obtaining records that allowed the public to independently evaluate government actions frequently proved much more difficult.

Picon also found it curious when Hicks appeared willing to take public credit for high-profile prosecutions that were largely handled by career prosecutors working behind the scenes. The attorneys who try cases, the investigators who gather evidence, and the victim advocates who support victims are often the people doing the heavy lifting. Yet elected officials are frequently the ones standing at the microphone.

To be fair, Hicks is absolutely correct about one thing. The men and women working inside the District Attorney's Office deserve recognition. Many are dedicated public servants who perform difficult jobs under challenging circumstances.

But public trust is not built through press releases. It is built through transparency, accountability, and a willingness to answer uncomfortable questions.

That is where critics say the Hicks administration often fell short.

As Wes Duncan prepares to take over the office, many in the community will be watching closely to see whether the next administration takes a different approach. Will public records become easier to obtain? Will media inquiries receive more direct responses? Will the office become more accessible to the public it serves?

Those questions may ultimately determine whether public trust is truly strengthened.

For now, Chris Hicks leaves office proud of his record.

The voters, however, have rendered their own verdict.