• On January 13th, we received a call
for assistance in the murder investigation of a 2 ½ year
old Baby Jane Cordova Doe found in a dumpster just off
of Eastern and Karen.
A number of our members responded to Metro to assist
in canvassing, handing out flyers, etc. Our members played
an important role in helping, along with the MVP’s
and Nevada Child Seekers. Over the next couple of days,
we were still reporting to Metro to assist. On Wednesday,
I was informed that “America’s Most Wanted” TV
show wanted to do a story on the child in an attempt
to help identify her and also show our assistance in
this effort.
The show aired this past Saturday, January 21st, which
gave outstanding coverage on the VHRU. Very little was
done on the Metro P.D., most was on the VHRU. We are planning
on having the tape of the interviews and coverage on our
web site very soon so all can see it.
• On Saturday, January 21st, the VHRU was asked to
participate in a search for a missing female in Henderson.
Lindsay Harris went missing back in May and the police
believed she was murdered and left in the desert near Anthem.
Thirty members of the VHRU responded, including 9 from
Pahrump to assist in the daylong search. The Henderson
Police Department was very well organized but the search,
unfortunately, came up negative.
I want to thank all those members who participated in
both call outs, with special thanks to the Pahrump team
and Don Woodmancy who drove daily from Mesquite to assist.
• Sheriff Bill Young, Las Vegas Metro PD, in December,
signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between his
department and the VHRU. In that MOU, he agreed to fingerprint
all our members as part of our background check. I will
be setting up a meeting with Metro to arrange for this
to happen. I envision that we go down to the Fingerprint
Bureau and inform the person at the window that we are
from the VHRU and go immediately back to be printed. I
hope they will allow us to come any day of the week. I
will let the members know the procedure once it’s
finalized. I realize most of us have been fingerprinted
by Metro for the CCW and maybe for the Sheriff’s
work card etc. We, the Board, will continue to do the written
verification of the police experience.
• This past New Years Eve, we had 24 members of the
VHRU assisting Las Vegas Metro with the security of their
7 sub stations throughout the city. Everything was quite
and we were thanked by the Police Officers for our assistance.
This was the first event we handled for Metro after the
MOU was signed. I expect more requests to assist them in
the future with other duties within their department.
• Lt Tom Smitley has written us a letter, inviting
the VHRU representatives to attend a meeting every month
in Laughlin regarding the upcoming River Run. The first
meeting was January 12th at the Metro Sub Station. Bob
Abrams, Bob Boerner, Squad Leader, Laughlin and I attended.
The highlights of this meeting are as follows:
- Numerous police agencies were in attendance, including
the DEA, ATF, California Highway Patrol, Arizona Police,
Tribal Police etc.
- The VHRU will be assigned to drive 8 unmarked cars
and patrol the covered parking garages.
- We will need at least 16 volunteers each night from
4/26 thru 4/29.
- We will be using our mobile Trailer as our Command
Center.
- We will try to get a couple of 12 passenger vans donated
by Enterprise to transport our volunteers down and back.
- Food and lodging are being arranged by Metro for those
who wish to remain in Laughlin for the entire event.
- The VHRU could also be used as observers, watching
incoming and outgoing traffic to help prevent thefts
of motorcycles.
- The PD will be using tracking devices on bait bikes
they will allow to be stolen, in order to follow subjects
to their chop shops.
On January 11th, Bob Abrams and Ted Farace met with Tim
Mc Andrew, City of Las Vegas Emergency Management to discuss
how the VHRU could help the City. Also present at this
meeting was the Deputy Fire Chief Ken Riddle of the City
of Las Vegas. Funding issues were discussed with Tim Mc
Andrew who will see if he can assist our organization.
A possible MOU could happen in the near future with the
City of Las Vegas.
Ken Riddle and Ted Farace discussed the formation of a
Fire, VHRU chaired
by a retired Fireman. I will also research forming a coalition
of the VHRU,
VHRU Fire (if we can build this), the Medical Association
of Volunteers
(Nurses and Doctors) into a Coalition of Reserve Units
to assist as one large
organization. Everything hinges on a Fire VHRU being formed.
• At our February General Membership Meeting we had
with us, as our guest speaker, a 26-year veteran of the
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Sgt Tim Shalhoob.
Tim is presently assigned to the Laughlin Sub Station and
is the VHRU contact for the upcoming Laughlin River Run
event. Tim wants to share with us the plan Metro has for
this event and focus on the following issues:
1. Housing for the VHRU volunteers.
2. Food arrangements.
3. Driver Training so we can drive Metro unmarked vehicles.
4. The proper use of the Metro radio and specific radio
codes that we should know in the event of an emergency.
5. Dress code, PD jackets being made for our use.
We will also need to identify those members here tonight
who are interested in helping on 4/26/06 to 4/30/06 in
Laughlin so we can arrange a driver training course.
• On Thursday, February 9th, President Ted Farace
took a trip up to Carson City to meet with Chief Frank
Siracusa and Deputy Chief Kamala Carmazzi, Department of
Public Safety, Emergency Management Division, to discuss
funding for 2006. Additionally, I worked with the individual
who is responsible for the production of our ID cards to
insure we have all the cards for our members. I realize
that we have a dozen or so members who have not had their
photo taken which will be done over the next few meetings.
The meeting with Frank and Kamala went well and they assured
me they would do everything they can to assist us with
some limited State funding to help cover the cost of our
29 cell phones until 3/2007.
The Emergency Management Division now has one person,
Dan Burns, positioned in Las Vegas working out of a State
facility on Jones Blvd. His role is the Public Information
Officer for this State agency. I will be making contact
with him to discuss his attending our monthly General Membership
meetings as a guest observer. We are also looking into
the possibility of using his office as a base for the VHRU.
More on this as time goes on.
• In the interim, I spoke with Captain James Green,
of the Henderson PD who has offered to purchase 150 hand
held Motorola Walkie-Talkies for the VHRU. Additionally,
he will purchase a new PD radio for our use. This portable
radio will help the VHRU communicate with the Officers
in the field if that department ever mobilized us. The
radio will most likely be stored in our Trailer and be
used when needed. I will attempt to obtain a similar portable
radio from the Metro PD.
• On February 21, the members were given copies of
the official New York City Police Department magazine, “Spring
3100” and a copy of an article from the “Hot
Sheet” newsletter of the Washington State, Retired
Deputy Sheriff’s and Police Officers Association
about the VHRU. This is the third and fourth article printed
by a police department about our group.
• I have been in touch with a retired Detective from
the Sheriff’s Department in Everett, Washington regarding
forming a VHRU chapter in Washington State. This was a
direct result of the article that was placed in the “Hot
Sheet” by our member Chuck Crawford. I have sent
this individual information on our structure and copies
of our agendas to get him started. More on this effort
as it develops.
• Information was given to our members regarding
the Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association
information on Law Enforcement Officers Act 2004-HR 218.
I hope this will answer everyone’s question on what
is needed statewide to qualify for this new ID card. We
are still waiting for a legal opinion from Carson City,
which Chief Perkins of the Henderson PD is working on to
quantify the requirements for a CCW if you have a HR218
certification.
• Lieutenant Ted Lee of Las Vegas Metro PD, Career
Criminals Unit recently contacted me for assistance. Lt.
Lee has requested volunteers to assist his Unit with fugitive
investigations etc. Anyone interested in helping, please
see Bob Abrams and add your name on the list.
• On March 21st, Sheriff Bill Young from Las Vegas
Metropolitan Police Department and Assistant Sheriff Ray
Flynn joined our General Membership Meeting as our guest
speakers.
I took the opportunity to thank Assistant Sheriff Flynn
for his help in arranging for the processing of the fingerprints
for all VHRU members. We will be creating a schedule to
have everyone fingerprinted in the near future. Additionally,
thanks to Assistant Sheriff Flynn for obtaining a Metro
PD portable radio to use, if activated by Metro.
We also had with us at the March 21st meeting, Las Vegas
Metro Chief Ted Moody, Patrol Division. Chief Moody talked
to our members about a new proposed program using volunteers
from the VHRU. This program would use qualified VHRU members
to be out on the street, helping in surveillance of areas
where there is a pattern of commercial robberies.
• In March, as a result of the recent trip by President
Ted Farace to Carson City to meet with the Chief of the
Emergency Management Division, Department of Public Safety,
they have now added the VHRU to the State of Nevada Emergency
Management web site as a State resource.
• Also in March, we received more good news as a
result of lobbying in Carson City. The Department of Public
Safety, Emergency Management contacted me and has agreed
to award a State grant to the VHRU to help defray some
of our expenses. As soon as the funding is received,
our first priority is to settle the cell phone accounts
for the remainder of the year and to reimburse our Core
Members for the up front payments they made. The balance
of the funds will be used for equipment, shirts, jackets
etc.
• At our March meeting, it was agreed to hold our
June General Membership Meeting in Laughlin. Team Leader
Joel Barez, is working on a package for the VHRU at the
Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino for Thursday, June 22nd
into Friday, June 23rd. Spouses and significant others
are welcome to join us. Joel will arrange a special spouse
tour while we have our General Membership Meeting. Breakfast,
dinner and room will be in the package deal. Our meeting
will start around 11:00 am. We’ll get the cost for
this meeting over the next couple of weeks.
• On March 7th, at the request of the Las Vegas Sunset
Rotary Club, Ted Farace addressed 30 members from the community
at a local restaurant to discuss the mission of the VHRU.
The concept of the VHRU and it’s contributions were
highlighted and the response was well received. Future
meetings will be held with the Board of the Las Vegas Sunset
Rotary Club to see how we can work together on community
projects.
• On Thursday, March 15th, the third meeting of the
law enforcement community and volunteers who will be working
the Laughlin River Run was held in Laughlin. The meeting
was chaired by Lieutenant Tom Smitley, Las Vegas Metro
and was well attended. Both Bob Abrams and I were present
along with Bob Boerner from our Laughlin Team. The Metro
PD Driver Training program has been arranged for April
4th and 5th with 20 VHRU members participating. Introductions
were made and everyone in the room had a chance to speak
regarding their agency and what they will offer during
the run. The hotel rooms are being sought and we should
have at least 10 rooms for our use.
• At our March meeting it was agreed to add a new
page to our web site, “Celebration of Life”.
The latest member who passed away, Tom Troccoli, a retired
Nassau County Police Officer and the former Director of
Security for the Nevada Palace Casino, along with the two
other deceased members, Mel Ramos and Joe Lucido, will
be remembered on this
new page.
• A Police organization based in California, which
holds it’s meetings in Reno and Las Vegas was contacted
to try to recruit more volunteers for the VHRU. The
organization, Retired Police Officers Association of California (POAC)
has close to a hundred members that live in northern Nevada. President
Ted Farace will try to arrange for a meeting in Carson
City and possibly speak at their next General Membership
Meeting.
• At our March meeting, one of our members, who wished
to remain anonymous, donated $1,000 to the VHRU. The
Board expresses our thanks and appreciation to our member
for his generosity.
• Captain James Dillon, Las Vegas Metro PD, joined
us at our April general membership Meeting regarding assistance
to his area of responsibility. Captain Dillon is seeking
qualified volunteers to work in Homicide on Cold cases,
Violent Crimes area and the Robbery Unit. As a result of
his appearance, 20 VHRU members have volunteered to assist.
More details on this project as it develops.
• New shirts and jackets were ordered in April for
our new members and those current members who didn’t
receive a shirt or jacket. We expect to have them available
for the May meeting.
• The final meeting of the Laughlin River Run Law
Enforcement committee met on April 13th. Bob Abrams,
along with Bob Boerner of the Laughlin Team, attended on
behalf of the VHRU. The Metro PD is ready with more
active officers than the year before. Metro is asking for
18 to 25 VHRU volunteers to use unmarked Metro vehicles
to do surveillance in the various hotel parking lots to
help prevent motorcycle theft. A list of names was submitted.
• On April 4, 2006, an article appeared in the Review
Journal concerning a new bill being presented to the US
Senate by Senator John Ensign. The Bill, S 2483, “Law
Enforcement Assistance Force” would create a nationwide
group of former law enforcement officers under the control
of the US Government to assist in Homeland Security initiatives.
I gave all the members in attendance of this months meeting
a copy of the proposed legislation for their review (S
2483). As you will see, it mirrors the VHRU mission
statement, except this bill will deputize all volunteers
and arm them. A retired Las Vegas Metro Sergeant spoke
to Senator Ensign about his concerns of not having an organized
group nationwide and asked him to sponsor this bill. This
Sergeant was aware of the existence of the VHRU and its
mission, but from what we learned, never spoke to the Senator
about our group.
I was in contact with the individual who drafted this
bill in Washington DC the night before the story broke
in the RJ. Senator Ensign’s office, his staff was
not aware of our group, but is now. All documentation concerning
the formation of the VHRU, MOU’s, etc. were sent
to the Senator’s staff for his review. In August
of 2005, I sent a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security,
Michael Chertoff with my suggestion he consider expanding
the VHRU to all the States (very similar to the Ensign’s
bill except for the part about being deputized). I never
received an answer from Secretary Chertoff. Copy
of this documentation was also sent to Senator Ensign’s
staff.
• April saw the creation of our new web page, “Celebration
of Life”, which was previously mentioned. The
VHRU would like to thank Arlene Bell of AMB
Web Design, our web designer for her in the designing
and maintaining our VHRU website.
• In April, one of our members, John Cahill, announced
he is running for Clark County Public Administrator. John
has worked in the department for many years and has the
knowledge to take over this position with valuable experience.
The Board of the VHRU wishes John well and good luck in
his campaign.
• This month we received a written opinion from Legal
Council in Carson City regarding the change in the State
Statute regarding carrying a concealed weapon. Thanks go
to Richard Perkins, Chief, Henderson Police Department
and Speaker of the House, for his help in making these
changes to the State Statute and clarifying the provision
on who is allowed to carry concealed. The opinion backs
our position that if you qualify under HR 218 you do not
need a CCW permit. I expect an announcement from Metro
soon, reinforcing this opinion.
• The May 2006 Laughlin River Run was a big success
for the VHRU and Metro. We had 26 members who volunteered
to do surveillance in unmarked Metro PD vehicles and to
staff our Command Center.
Ted Farace attended a Metro Wash Up meeting in Laughlin
with Bob Boerner. The following comments were made about
our participation: the results this year in the reduction
of stolen bikes from 13 in 2005 to 3 in 2006 was a direct
result of the VHRU doing its patrols in the various parking
lots. Lt. Smitley indicated he wants to have an additional
25 or so more volunteers next year. Metro realizes the
value we bring to this event. The Wash-up meeting was poorly
attended by law enforcement agencies that participated.
Lt Smitley attributes this to the success of this year’s
coverage by the police and volunteers. Why attend a follow-up
meeting when everyone already knew of the successful results.
(View River Run
Images ).
• John Cahill donated $1,000 to the VHRU at the May
General Membership Meeting. The Board thanks John for his
support and dedication to the VHRU organization.
• One of our Squad Leaders, Kristine Stephens has
accepted a position in the State Attorney General’s
Office to work full time as an Investigator in the Nevada
Department of Justice, Private Investigators’ Licensing
Board. Congratulation to Kristine: well done.
• Moapa member, Tom Brady arranged a meeting with
Las Vegas Metro Sergeant, Mike Daley in Overton. Bob Abrams,
Tom and I had a good conversation with Sgt Daley and he
was very interested in our organization and intends to
include the VHRU in his next planned exercise. Sgt Daley
is the equivalent of Lieutenant Smitley in Laughlin. He
has the responsibility for the northern part of Clark County
and has nine sworn officers in his command.
• Chief Brad Valladon of the Capital Police contacted
Ted Farace regarding open positions in his department in
Las Vegas. The position requires that the individual
applying must be POST certified. (Retired within 5 years
would be acceptable) Ted mentioned that most of our members
have been retired longer but in case there are any members
young enough to apply and have an interest in applying,
they can contact the Chief directly.
• As part of our agreement (MOU) with the Las Vegas
Metropolitan Police Department, all VHRU members must undergo
a fingerprint check through the FBI. Written verification
of the applicants police experience will be verified by
letter to said police agency. Squad Leader, Kristine Stephens
will be responsible for writing to all those agencies of
new members who express a wish to join our group. Our Vice
president, Jim Swanson will be coordinating the fingerprinting
of all our members over the next few weeks. Metro PD developed
a special fingerprint application form for this purpose.
Metro Assistant Sheriff Ray Flynn will be coordinating
the staff at the fingerprint area in Metro to get this
done expeditiously.
• In June, a member who wishes to remain anonymous
made a donation of $1,000. Also, John Cahill and most recently
Steve Dawson, made donations of $1,000 each. Frank
Bruton and Ted Farace made donations of $1,001.00 each.
After the Laughlin meeting, Ted Farace received a $1,000
donation to the VHRU from William S. Boyd of Boyd Gaming.
He signed the check himself from his foundation (The Boyd
Foundation) pledging his support for the VHRU.
We owe our Team Leader from Mesquite, Don Woodmancy, a
big thank you for drafting the letters to the various CEO’s
in town. Who knows, maybe more will follow.
• As required by State Law for Nevada Corporations,
the annual meeting and election of officers for the VHRU
(not-for-profit Nevada Corporation) was held after the
monthly agenda was completed. Ted Farace was re-elected
as President, Jim Swanson, Vice President and Bob Abrams
as Secretary.
• Fire Chief Dave Washington of the City of Las Vegas
Fire Department has approved the donation of a surplus
Ambulance to the VHRU. Frank Bruton has prepared an MOU
for their consideration. Ted Farace has been in contact
with Battalion Chief Fuller who will be working with Ted
on the transfer of the vehicle to the VHRU. We expect to
have the vehicle as soon as all the legal aspects of the
transfer are sorted out.
• Name recognition is important for our organization.
We need to give our organization more exposure and one
way is advertising by the use of signs.
Signs are being printed, as per the handout given today,
which will be placed in high traffic areas to gain attention
and more volunteers.
Some locations to be considered, the Mono Rail system in
Vegas, the CAT Bus system, Taxi Cabs, Cosco and Sam’s
Clubs and any other locations you may think of. This would
include Laughlin, Pahrump and Mesquite locations. The investment
of approximately $350.00 will cover the cost of 4-dozen
signs.
• On July 5, 2006, Ted Farace was notified that the
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) submitted by the Henderson
Police Department was approved and funding allocated. In
that grant, the Henderson PD will purchase 144 Motorola
hand held Walkie-Talkies with a range of 12 miles, as well
as a PD Walkie-Talkie for the VHRU. We will now have two
hand held police radio’s (Henderson PD and Metro
PD) to be used if either department activates us.
• Recently in the Review Journal there was an article
describing a plan to build Intelligence Centers throughout
Nevada to better coordinate information. Frank Siracusa
of the Department of Emergency Management proposed this
plan. As you recall, we have a MOU with Frank and he has
helped us with funding over the past two years. Ted Farace
drafted a letter in support of this concept and offered
our assistance in staffing the centers when and if they
are built.
• Additionally, in July, Ted had requested the State
donate their ID Card system to the VHRU so we can produce
our own ID cards. The Department of Emergency Management
will no longer be responsible for producing ID Cards for
the Department of Public Safety. There is only one issue
to overcome, the ID Cards have the State Seal and we need
to work out the legality of the VHRU having possession
of these without State oversight. Conversations will be
taking place between the State Attorney General’s
office and Frank Bruton to draft an agreement to provide
the necessary safe guards for the VHRU to issue these ID
Cards with the State Seal, if they approve our request.
• On July 28, 2006, a news story appeared
in the Review Journal, Henderson View section on the VHRU. The
article focused on our assistance to both the Henderson
PD and Las Vegas Metro PD over the past few months. (See
link to story)
• July 29, 2006, Las Vegas Metro PD
activated the VHRU and requested we supply volunteers to
assist at the sight of a propane explosion. Notifications
were made to our members and 20 volunteers responded to
the staging area at the Santa Fe Hotel and Casino. The
Metro PD command center was located near the Cannery Casino
and we were directed to respond to that location to be
assigned. Upon arrival, we established our Command Center
utilizing our VHRU Trailer.
Our assignment was to go street by street
in an area in close proximity to the explosion site and
notify homeowners that there was a possibility of a second
explosion and they should consider evacuating their home.
Our presence allowed uniform officers to remain on patrol
and focus on calls for service. A temporary shelter was
established in a nearby college campus and along with an
over flow facility at the Cashman Center. The operation
took 5 hours and our efforts were very much appreciated
by both the citizens and Las Vegas Metro PD.
• On August 1, 2006, a meeting was held
with Tom Finn the new Chief of the Boulder City Police
Department to discuss the VHRU and review our plans for
a mock exercise to be held on Saturday, October 28, 2006.
Chief Finn indicated he welcomes the exercise and his department
will participate along with the Boulder City Fire Department.
The Police will utilize their new Command Vehicle along
with the Fire Department’s equipment. Additional
meetings will be held to work out the details of the exercise.
A draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was given to
Chief Finn for his review and consideration.
• Many members of the VHRU participated in the “National
Night Out” on August 1, 2006 with both the Las Vegas
Metro Police Department in Laughlin Nevada and the Henderson
Police Department. Volunteers manned numerous positions
at the Galleria Mall as well as our own table, handing
out flyers about the VHRU in an effort to solicit more
former law enforcement officers to join. The Citizen Corps
volunteers from the Henderson Police Department also participated.
• Unfortunately, Sheriff Doug Gillespie is unable
to make the September or October General Membership Meetings
due to conflicting schedules. Sheriff Gillespie will
be joining the Core Leadership on October 17th at our monthly
meeting to discuss his candidacy for Clark County Sheriff.
Ted Farace had the opportunity to meet with both Sheriff
Gillespie and Ray Flynn to discuss the future of the VHRU
in supporting Las Vegas Metro PD. The meeting was very
positive and supportive of our mission and goals.
• In September, the City of Henderson Police Department
for our use, purchased 150 hand held walkie-talkies. The
walkie-talkies were distributed to the Core members. Each
Team and Squad Leader has 6 radios, which they will carry
if we are activated. The Core Leaders will issue these
radios at the staging area to those responding. Our thanks
to the Henderson PD for supplying the necessary funding
to purchase these radios.
• A recent federal Bill # S 3621 was submitted to
the Senate by Senator Harry Reid. The bill titled, “Safer
Skies Act of 2006”, if approved into law, will allow
active officers to carry their weapon on planes when on
business or vacation. There are a couple of caveats to
this legislation:
- The officer must be a direct employee of a government
agency that employs more than 400 people.
- A nationally recognized accreditation program must
accredit the recognized law enforcement agency.
- The officer must be armed in accordance with an agency
wide policy established by the employing agency by directive
or police statement.
- The officer must comply with the requirements relating
to Federal Law Enforcement Officers.
A copy of this proposed legislation was distributed to
all attending the September General Membership Meeting.
Thanks to member Roger Weaver for bringing this to our
attention. If this bill is passed into law, it is quite
possible an amendment could be added to this bill to allow
retired officers who qualify under HR 218 to carry as well.
• A request was made to the Nevada Highway Patrol
for a permit to use amber lights in an emergency situation
on responding VHRU vehicles. The Highway Patrol approved
the VHRU request and a permit was issued for 26 VHRU privately
owned vehicles. The cost of the lights is being researched.
• An update on the Fire Department ambulance donation.
A visit was made to the City of Las Vegas Fire Department
maintenance shop to inspect the 4 vehicles they wish to
dispose of. We selected one with low mileage and in decent
shape and we were given the maintenance manual for the
vehicle to review.
We were able to get a quote for special insurance
listing the VHRU organization as the registered owner. The
cost is reasonable, around $1,200 annually. A list
of authorized drivers was prepared for the Insurance Company.
These will be the only authorized drivers of this vehicle
once title is transferred to the VHRU.
We have a call into the City Attorney who handles the
Fire Department to discuss the transfer of title of the
vehicle to the VHRU.
• Don Woodmancy, the new Public Information Officer
for the VHRU has been asked to prepare a tri-fold pamphlet
outlining the history and mission of the VHRU. This pamphlet
will be distributed at shows and events and placed in various
stores in an attempt to recruit more qualified volunteers.
• The mock exercise in Boulder City Nevada is scheduled
for Saturday, October 28th at 11:00 am. Team and
Squad Leaders will be calling the members the night before
to remind them of this exercise and to get a count on how
many of our members will participate. We will have food
after this exercise. The exercise should last no longer
than 2 hours. A permit for Hemenway Park was obtained
in Boulder City where a few of our members under the supervision
of Squad Leader Charlie Licata, will be doing the cooking.
Copies of the “suggested mock exercise” were
given to all members who attended the August and September
General Meetings to review.
• The Treasury was increased this month with a donation
of $300.00 by the Aetna Foundation and a $1,000 donation
from Sam’s Club. Thanks go out to those organizations
for supporting the mission statement of the VHRU.
• In September, Assistant Sheriff Flynn met with
Sheriffs Young, Gillespie and Jet to discuss our involvement
in future mock exercises like the one held with the Department
of Transportation and Las Vegas Metro. It was agreed by
all four that the VHRU would be contacted by the Las Vegas
Metro Emergency Management Unit to insure that the VHRU
would be involved. Monthly meetings with the Metro Emergency
Management Unit and a representative from the VHRU are
being planned.
• Metro has now asked for four (4) to eight (8) qualified
VHRU members to assist in Cold Case Homicides. The only
caveat is that volunteers can’t be licensed Private
Investigators. Additionally, they have requested volunteers
to work in the Aviation Unit and Career Criminal Unit.
A number of members have applied for consideration.
• Las Vegas Metro also asked for 25 volunteers to
support them for the upcoming New Years Eve detail. The
VHRU would be assigned sub station security, freeing up
those officers to be assigned to the strip. Squad Leader
Bob Francesconi will coordinate this event for the VHRU.
• A suggestion was made to start a dialogue with
the Clark County School Police to establish a relationship
to support them especially with all these lock downs and
take over of schools across the country. Since Squad
Leader John Liba worked in the CCSP, John was asked to
take the lead on this initiative and to contact the Chief
of the Clark County School Police to arrange a meeting
to get this dialogue started.
• Safe House, Safe Nest, Domestic Violence Task Force
etc. requested our assistance in providing volunteers to
handle security at their annual outdoor event. The
first six people called volunteered for the 6 hours. A
number of politicians attended, including Gubernatorial
Candidate Dina Titus. This gave the VHRU some exposure
and we will most likely help at this worthwhile event again
next year.
• The Alaska State Trooper Association Newsletter “The
Banner” came out recently with an article written
about the VHRU. Two Alaska members, Jim Beckham and John
Liba, who worked in the police departments in that State
assisted in the preparation of the article. These articles
will help recruit more volunteers.
• On October 28th, the mock exercise in Boulder City
was a success with 65 members responding to the call out.
The VHRU Board wants to thank Paul Scott, Bob Moran and
Charlie Licata for all their help in buying and preparing
the food for our mock exercise in Boulder City. Our compliments
to Charlie for his sausage and peppers, the best. Thanks
to Tony Pakula for his work in obtaining the permit in
Boulder City for our BBQ at Hemenway Park. Photos taken
by John Liba and Dick Cancellier of the exercise are now
up on our VHRU website for your review. (LINK-Mock Exercise
Boulder City) Thank you guys.
A handout was given to all members attending the November
General Membership Meeting critiquing the exercise.
• As we all know, Doug Gillespie was elected Sheriff
of Clark County (The Las Vegas Metro PD included) in the
November election. We will continue our dialogue with the
new Sheriff and we feel we have a good working relationship
already, which can only improve.
• Nye County Sheriff, Tony DeMeo was re-elected and
a meeting will be arranged with him to discuss and plan
a mock exercise in Pahrump in Nye County sometime in 2007.
• The VHRU will be planning another exercise in the
spring with the Henderson Police Department; we’ve
asked Squad Leader Steve Dawson, who is the Coordinator
of the Henderson Citizen Corps, to join us with his team.
Steve Dawson and Ted Farace will get together in early
07 to discuss a joint exercise.
• We will be ordering new VHRU hats, which will be
distributed to all members at the January meeting. The
dates of our 2007 meetings are not yet finalized. When
we have that information available you will be advised.
• With all the news about graffiti in Las Vegas,
maybe we could get a few members to volunteer to sit on
various locations prone to graffiti and notify the Police
if we see anyone in the area that looks suspicious. We
would have to present a plan to the Sheriff Gillespie for
his approval.
• On behalf of the Board and the Core Leaders, we
wish to thank everyone for their support of our organization.
We presently have 210 members and our goal next year is
to reach 250.
• The Board wants to thank members; Hector Pelaez
and Chuck Crawford for the hard work in putting together
the first Law Enforcement Bowling Tournament. It will be
held at the Gold Coast Casino in April. Details will be
distributed in early January to police organizations as
well as the four police departments in the valley. The
Tournament will be open to active and former law enforcement
officers.
• There is no General Meeting in December since we
have our 4th Annual Law Enforcement Holiday Party. All
the best wishes to everyone from the VHRU Board for a happy
holiday season and a healthy and safe New Year.
Ted Farace, President and Coordinator |
