Since our last article, the BCPD has continued to meet the demands of a dynamic work environment and our Association continues to be deeply involved in community events. We would like to recognize Detective Sergeant Vince Albowicz and Detectives Mark DuBois, Mike Daniel, and Michelle Isham for their splendid investigative efforts in a complex investigation of horrific proportions involving child sexual abuse and other despicable crimes.
Our narcotic detectives have been hard at work getting heroin off our streets and have made great strides in locating and arresting heroin dealers in Boulder City.
In a recent newspaper article, the Chief credited “young, aggressive officers” for the record low crime rate of 2008. However, we in the Association also recognize the collective efforts of all officers in identifying and addressing crime trends to make Boulder City a safe place to live, work, and play.
For seven years in a row, Officer Craig Tomao has devoted countless hours and tireless effort to plan and produce the “BMX is Not a Crime” event. Law enforcement agencies from throughout the valley volunteer to spend time with the kids and their families in forging a bond with the community.
Officers Robert Woolsey and David Krumm have likewise devoted time and effort for the Special Olympics. Officers Jen Ford and Aaron Johnson volunteered to be this Association’s representatives for the Relay for Life, a charitable effort to raise money for cancer research and treatment. The Association paid the entry fees and donated $250.00 to this worthy cause. Because of Jen and Aaron’s Herculean efforts, over $2000.00 was raised – not bad for the first year.
Detective Scott Pastore has spent countless volunteer hours building the Explorers program.
Dan Jennings relinquished his blotter writing duties to Tom Healing, who is easily building a fan base. Dan attended the funeral for the four Oakland police officers slain in the line of duty in March. The Association donated $100.00 for his travel expenses to Oakland. (He posted a first-person account of his observations at danielmjennings.com.) The Association would like to thank Dan for his effort and time in writing the blotter.
The funds that we donate to organizations such as Relay for Life, BMX is Not a Crime, Special Olympics, and for fallen officers’ families throughout the country comes from the monthly dues paid by each member of the Association.
We in the Association would like to thank the members of our community for their splendid support during the City’s budget crisis. There is a valid reason why community comes first in community policing.
As far as the City’s budget crisis: We as an Association voted to open our contract and agreed to delay half of our cost-of-living increase until next year and extend our contract until 2011. We have also offered myriad suggestions to our Chief and City Manager to save money and generate new income. Our primary concern within the Association is: Where is the leadership in this particular situation?
Sheriff Doug Gillespie took the lead for the LVMPD by not accepting his cost-of-living raise prior to asking the rank-and-file officers to forego their cost-of-living increase. In the military, this is called “leading from the front”.
Our “leaders” did the opposite. The City’s leadership looked to the workers - employees who ensure that your electricity stays on, employees who make sure that you have clean running water, employees who protect and serve you - to take the first pay cut. Will our “leaders” follow us? Perhaps.
The City is looking to its employees to solve the budget problem when it is the employees who are working hard every day, often with sub-standard equipment, to make sure that you, the citizen, continue to enjoy the lifestyle and services that you have come to expect and deserve.
Finally, the Association would like to recognize several officers for their participation in the funeral services of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer James Manor, who was killed in the line of duty on March 7 in a traffic collision while responding to a domestic disturbance. Sergeant John Glenn and Officer Aaron Johnson represented our City as members of the Southern Nevada Multi-Agency Honor Guard. K9 Officer Paul Daly, and Traffic Officers Levi Gilliam, Alan Nutzman, and Todd Cazett provided traffic control before, during, and after the funeral and motorcade processions. Detective Scott Pastore and Officer Douglas Henke worked on their day off so that Sergeant Glenn and Officer Johnson could participate. Chief Thomas Finn, Sergeant Dan Jennings, Detective Mark DuBois, and Officers Tom Healing, Brandon Ashby, and Keil Ahenakew attended the funeral services as representatives of the City of Boulder City.
Officer Manor lived as a hero and died protecting his community with honor. Rest in peace, our brother, we have the watch. May God be with your family and friends.