Let’s all go to the rodeo!
Mound House Cops & Kids Bike Rodeo
Deputy Brian Parsons and Mordachi Simon
Children from Mound House and surrounding areas recently flocked to Vondale Rose Park in search of a heightened awareness of bicycle safety.
The attraction was a special program sponsored by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Volunteers In Policing (VIPs). The program provides hands-on training and printed information for parents to take home and continue the education.
VIPs offer several sheriff’s department programs to Lyon County children.
Go, Max!
A Department of Public Safety officer and his trusty K-9 are getting credit for a big pot bust east of Tucson.
The officer stopped a truck September 12th on Interstate Ten.
He thought something was a little off, so he sent Max in the truck for a look.
The dog found 1500 pounds of marijuana wrapped in plastic.
The truck was also carrying produce.
Officers got help from employees at the the Wal-Mart store in Benson unloading the produce.
35- year old Rohan Coombs of Orlando, Florida is charged with Possession/Transportation of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.
He’s also charged with Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, for the loaded gun officers found in the truck.
Police Officer Catches Scent of Marijuana in Car, Nets Large Bust
DECATUR, Ala. (WAAY) – Police K-9 units usually get all the credit for sniffing out drugs during a bust. But sometimes their human masters can out-sniff even the dogs.
During a routine traffic stop two weeks ago, Calvin Larry and Brandon Swopes were arrested after a Decatur police officer was able to smell a overwhelming odor of un-burnt marijuana.
“It may not always get the media coverage, but the sense of smell during a car stop – especailly dealing with marijuana – usually gets an officer into the car and gets him into it to be able to search it,” said Decatur Lt. Jonathan Green.
Patrol officers are out interfacing with the public all day. Before wearing the badge, each one is trained to detect drugs through smell.
“The trainer exposes them to both unburnt and burned marijuana,” Green said. “There’s a distinct difference to unburned and burned marijuana, and marijuana itself has a distinct smell all its own.”
Others drugs aren’t as potent and easy to smell. Some domestic dispute or regular house calls can lead to a drug arrest because officers can smell it upon entering the home.
Green said if the officer two weeks ago wasn’t using his sense of smell, two pounds of marijuana would still be out on the streets.
“If the officers hadn’t been alert, hadn’t been trained to know what that smell was, it could have been a routine traffic stop where he wrote a citation and let the driver go on his way, Green said.
While using human’s sense of smell is good, the K-9 units are still the preferred best method for sniffing out any kind of drug.
Police officer’s role at Capital High more about prevention than discipline
Cpl. Kevin Smailes doesn’t expect to escort too many students outside Capital High School in handcuffs.
As the school’s new prevention resource officer, Smailes hopes his presence will curb unruly or illegal behavior. In almost all cases, he will defer discipline problems to Capital Principal Clinton Giles.
“I really don’t want to be involved,” Smailes said. “That’s his end of the spectrum.”
A patrol officer for nine years, Smailes will teach Capital students about law enforcement, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, conflict resolution and Internet safety.
Smailes is one of about 55 prevention resource officers in West Virginia. Kanawha County now has at least five full-time police officers or deputies on staff at Capital, South Charleston, Riverside and St. Albans high schools and Stonewall Jackson Middle School.
Giles said one idea behind prevention resource officers is to send students a positive message about law enforcement because so many first encounters with police are negative.
“A classroom teacher teaches values,” Giles said. “There are some people who don’t agree with that. By one’s very nature, you teach values.”
Giles said the values that Smailes represents – being a teacher, husband and a responsible community member – will come across to Capital students. “Especially the young men,” he said.
Smailes also wants students to think about their own futures.
“A big thing I like to ask them is, ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years?’” he said. “My goal is to reach as many of them as I can.”
A few weeks into the job, some students have warmed to Smailes, he said. He parks his car just outside the school’s main entrance and greets the teenagers in the morning.
“I’ve had them come up to me in the halls and stuff,” he said. “That’s the goal.”
Smailes will be around during the bus runs in the morning and afternoon and at lunchtime, when studies show that fights and other problems are more likely to occur.
He has spent most of the last nine years with the Charleston Police Department, but also worked as a Kanawha County sheriff’s deputy for about 16 months.
A grant from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services covers Smailes’ new position at Capital. For at least a year, a new officer will be on patrol for Charleston Police. It was not immediately clear how much the grant is worth.
“They have to reapply every year,” Smailes said. “I’m hoping that every year it will get renewed.”
This is the first prevention resource officer ever at Capital.
“I’ve wanted a prevention resource officer out here at Capital for a number of years,” Giles said. “Quite frankly I think we should have got one before anyone [in Charleston].”
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office salutes diligent officers and citizens
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office held its annual awards luncheon Tuesday to recognize employees and citizens who have earned awards or special recognition.
Dedicated Service Awards were given to Sheriff’s Office employees who have served 20, 25 and 30 years during the ceremony at the Rochester Institute of Technology Inn and Conference Center.
Other awards included Sheriff’s Commendation, Life Saving Award, Distinguished Service Medal, Civilian Service Award, Core Value Award and the Andrew P. Meloni Award.
Assistant Supervisor Phil Gombatto was one of the recipients of the Sheriff’s Commendation for his assistance in June to the Rochester Police Department in arresting individuals involved in two separate car jackings. Gombatto was recognized for “keeping with the spirit of inter-agency cooperation so vital in keeping our community safe.”
SWAT Unit members Sgt. Todd Brinkerhoff, Deputy Jason Storm and retired Deputy James Weden received the Distinguished Service Medal for their work in developing and implementing the sheriff’s Active Shooter Program.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the shooter program has “drastically improved the abilities of the law enforcement officer to respond to an armed adversary threat.”
The Civilian Service Award went to Keith Nutt for interrupting the victimization of two juveniles by a sexual predator in Linear Park in Penfield in July 2007 and helping police with the investigation, which resulted in the conviction of the perpetrator and a 20- to 25-year sentence. Kevin Dennis and Randy Hughes were also given a Civilian Service Award for their help in locating and holding a suspect wanted in a violent assault that occurred at Forks Sports Park in Hilton in June until police arrived.
Firefighters thank police officers, hotel worker for their help
The word of the day for the Tallahassee police and fire departments was teamwork.
Firefighters on Tuesday honored Police Officers Derek Hawthorne and Roger Salmonsen in a ceremony, along with Holiday Inn maintenance worker Jim Prine, for responding quickly and effectively during an Aug. 30 fire at the hotel.
The three men climbed 12 flights of stairs, evacuated the 11th and smoke-filled 12th floors and rescued two people, according to Fire Department Public Information Officer Cody Reese.
Afterward, firefighters ascended with oxygen tanks and masks and put out an AC unit that had burst into flames.
“I thought it’d be nice to give these guys some recognition,” Reese said during the ceremony at the Adams Street fire station. “They made our job a little bit easier, and … we appreciate that.”
A smoke detector indicated the fire was coming from the top floor — a particularly dangerous place for even a small fire because escape is so difficult, according to Reese.
The three men noticed smoke coming from under the door of Room 1203 and guided firefighters when the fire could have started spreading and time was of the essence.
“Time is definitely property damage, in this case,” Fire Marshal Cindy Dick said.
Preventing this kind of fire is simple: “Regular maintenance, basically,” Reese said.
He added these safety tips: “Know what’s going on around you. If there’s a burning smell, don’t just shrug it off.”
Please remember this officer & his family in your prayers
Phoenix Police Officer Barry Scott, [pictured], who was collapsed after competing in a charity boxing match at the Fort McDowell Casino on Friday, died Tuesday.
Scott had been in critical condition since his amateur fight with a local firefighter. As New Times reported today, one spectator says the fight should have been stopped sooner by the referee.
Sgt. Andy Hill, spokesman for Phoenix police, put out the following press release at 5:30 pm:
Phoenix Police Officer Barry Scott passed away late this afternoon with his family, friends, and fellow officers gathered together at the hospital.
Barry will be greatly missed by all. His family thanks the media and community for your thoughts and prayers.
