Representatives of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection were told to leave Nye County by Sheriff Tony DeMeo Saturday, June 28, because, according to the sheriff, the officers were attempting to use "intimidation and harassment tactics" to capture potential fireworks smugglers heading back to the Golden State.

DeMeo said he received a phone call the previous Friday from an assistant to Dave Hillman, chief of prevention and law enforcement for the California office, informing him officers were planning to implement an interdiction program in Nye County.

The program was part of an executive order issued by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The executive order called for strict measures against fireworks coming into California and, according to DeMeo, Pahrump and Nye County were specifically mentioned as sources of incoming fireworks that are illegal in that state.

Although the interdiction effort itself wasn't unusual, DeMeo took issue with the fact the officers were going to be in uniform, in state vehicles and carrying weapons.

"I understand fire safety," DeMeo said. "But the aggressive process they have, with uniformed officers, is not going to fly in Nye County. To me they were using intimidation tactics."

He said usually operations such as these are conducted by plainclothed officers in undercover vehicles.

According to DeMeo, California officers will write down the license plate numbers of California motorists in the area suspected of carrying illegal fireworks and check the vehicles at the state line.

DeMeo told the California representative that if uniformed officers showed up in official vehicles he would escort them back to the state line.

Although the sheriff was told the operation was called off, Saturday one of his deputies saw a two-man team in an official California vehicle in front of Phantom Fireworks.

"I told them it was a lack of proper protocol and a lack of professionalism," DeMeo said. "They have no official law enforcement authority here."

Adding some levity to the situation, DeMeo said he also told the officers, "I terminated you. Hasta la vista."

After a phone call to the team's superior officers, the team drove back to California without further difficulty.

DeMeo also took umbrage at the specific mention of Pahrump and Nye County in Schwarzenegger's statement.

"They sell fireworks in California," DeMeo pointed out. "And I can't find a single major fire that was started by fireworks. Most of them are started with lightning."