Volume 13 Number 08
AUGUST 2013 HIGHLIGHTS
Behind The BADGE DALLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FROM THE SHERIFF The Dallas County Commissioners Court officially recognizes September as Emergency Preparedness Month. I encourage each of you to take some time to review or start a plan with your family, should an emergency ever take place. Where as our Dallas County Sheriff’s Department team, continuously works hard to provide a safe environment for the community, we need to ensure we are taking care of our own families. One tool the county has set up for employees is to register with the county’s employee emergency notification system. You can learn more about this on page four.
Inside this issue:
Dallas County Cycling Team
SRT Needs Applicants
Shooters Wanted
Bon Voyage Geri Beidson
BCOC Class #290
Emergency Preparedness
Retirements
Throw Blanket Orders
Stay Informed:
In addition, we’d like to commend the great work the Parkland jail health team continues to do. During a recent visit from the U.S. Department of Justice, we received several accolades for the teamwork done here in Dallas County. A full report will be available soon, meantime, we all await the future of the med mod project.
Dallas-Sheriff.com Renovations
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department has a new look. The renovated website is designed to make it much easier for the public to navigate. The latest look includes links to social media plugs: Twitter, Facebook, as well as Nixle (one of the latest law enforcement focused social media tools) to keep the residents of Dallas County as informed as possible.
Dallas.Sheriff.Dept
@dallas_sheriff
In addition, Sheriff Lupe Valdez is proud to include a comprehensive Spanish component. As the second largest county in Texas, the sheriff’s department is fully committed to the 2.4 million county residents. The site includes the Google translator option which provides translation to several other languages. The website’s new look is the first step in moving the department’s web presence forward. It serves as an enhancement to the jail look up link, which is the most visited Dallas County resource page. Employees note that the Intranet link has not changed.
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Hotter N’ Hell 100 By Captain David Mitchell Four members of the Dallas County cycling team participated in the Hotter N’ Hell Bicycle Rally in Wichita Falls on August 24 th. This rally is the largest one-day bicycling event in the U.S. There were approximately 12,000 participants. It is held on the same Saturday each year, nine days before Labor Day. This event fills up all the area hotels and RV parks. Folks also sleep in “host homes,” at the YMCA, on church pews, in the back of their pick-up trucks, and in tents on the ground. My wife and I stayed at a hotel in Bowie. Everything begins on Friday with a consumer show and professional criterium racing downtown. The Saturday rally includes courses ranging in distance from 6 miles to 101 miles. The vast majority of the participants do the 100 miles or the 100 kilometers (62) miles. There is also a finish line village with live bands and lots of food and drink. The HHH is obviously famous for the heat, but it is also always windy on the North Texas prairie. The rally begins at sunrise, which is 7:04 am. The trick is to cover as much distance as possible before it gets hot. The rally starts with the national anthem, a flyover, and a cannon blast. Despite 12,000 folks starting together, the start went smoothly and safely this year. I only saw two bodies lying in the road and I was never in jeopardy. There are rest stops approximately every 10 miles. These rest stops are spectacles in themselves in that they compete to see which is the favorite of the riders. The ones for the first 60 miles include some entertainment theme. The rest stops afterward focus on replenishment, refreshment, and first aid. The rest stop at 53 miles, “Margaritaville,” is probably the best. They pump 60’s and 70’s rock-androll through a super sound system, and the volunteers dress like Jimmy Buffett. When I rolled in they were playing “Brown Eyed Girl” and when I left they were playing “Ring of Fire.” They serve freshly grilled brats and burgers (even though it is not wise to eat them). They also serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and ice-cold watermelon which are wonderful. The first 35 miles were cool with a favorable breeze. But, as the day wore on it started to get hot. Probably around 1 o’clock it gr ew overcast and seemed to cool a bit. However, simultaneously the wind picked up some, and was in our faces for about 20 miles. The Dallas County team did very well. Deputy David Mosman, of the fugitive section, was on the 100 kilometer (62 mile) course at about 40 miles when he had a mechanical failure. He was going very fast until then and naturally he was disappointed. DSO Jeff Knobler, from the North Tower, completed the 62 mile course with an average speed of 15.5 mph. Deputy Todd Hagenbuch, Constable Precinct 4, completed the 101 mile course with an average speed of 16.0 mph. Captain David Mitchell, SID, completed the 101 mile course in an average speed of 16.9 mph. This is a “bucket-list” event and we look forward to having more folks from Dallas County there next year. For more information on how to participate please see the HHH website at: http://www.hh100.org/ or contact one of the guys.
JOIN THE SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM As part of the examination process for selection as member of the Special Response Team, candidates will be required to complete each phase of this test. Each phase is graded on a pass/fail basis. 1. Squat lift 75 pounds dead weight. 2. Complete minimum number of sit-ups and push-ups within 2-minute period according to attached scale. 3. Complete the body drag while wearing full emergency gear. Move approximately 75 feet to practical dummy, then move dummy in a safe manner back to original starting position. 4. Descent staircase, put on emergency gear (large vest, helmet, pads, gas mask) then climb back up staircase to starting point. 5. Complete a 2-mile run in 18 minutes. 6. Complete obstacle course. For more info contact Sgt. Henderson at x3057
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Volume 13 Number 08
Shooter Team Wanted For The 2013 Sporting Clays Benefit Sheriff will sponsor a team of four players. If you are interested email the PIO: carmen.castro@dallascounty.org. In the email please include best contact phone number and an option for a 12 gauge or 20 gauge. The Elm Fork Shooting Sports facility hosts once again the NTCC Sporting Clays Benefit shoot. In 2012 over 235 shooters tested their skills, accuracy and sense of humor during this fun charity event, raising money to fight crime in the North Texas area. Registration includes morning coffee and pastries, lunch, 12 or 20 gauge shells, golf cart and more. Prizes will be awarded to the top three individual shooters as well as the members of the top three teams. Friday October 4, 2013 7:30a.m. - Registration opens 8:30a.m. - Mandatory safety briefing 9:00a.m. - Shotgun start 12:00 noon - Lunch and awards The Venue Elm Fork Shooting Sports facility is located at 10751 Luna Road in Dallas, Texas.
Bon Voyage Geri Beidson
After getting up every Sunday for the last 33 years to be present at church service, Geri Beidson is relocating. The 2013 Dallas County Sheriff’s Department Volunteer of the Year recipient is taking a chaplain position in the Amarillo jail. His last day serving the Dallas County jail was Aug. 19, 2013. Good luck on the next chapter in our life, Geri, and thank you for your dedication while in Dallas County.
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Volume 13 Number 08
Congratulations BCOC Class #290
Dallas County Emergency Preparedness As part of the Dallas County Commissioners Court resolution to formally recognize September 2013 as Emergency Preparedness, officials encourage each employee to take time and review or prepare a plan with their family in case an emergency strikes. Dallas County has an internal website which can help you and your family plan ahead. Some of the content posted, includes a list of important emergency phone numbers, as well as informative videos. From the county computer, employees can access the site at http://www.dallascounty.org/department/ osem/safetywarden.php. In addition, this site provides a list of departmental safety coordinators should something arise while employees are on the job. In case you are interested, training for departmental safety coordinators is held on a regular basis. Finally, employees have an opportunity to register with the Employee Emergency Notification System which can be enabled to one of your communication devices, including your mobile phone. Registration for these notifications can be done at http:// hsem.dallascounty.org/.
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Happy Retirement Ms. Hayes!
Pictured above: DSO Alvena Hayes and Sheriff Lupe Valdez at Ms. Hayes retirement celebration. Lt. Patrick Bonner led the celebration. Family and friends signed cards for their esteemed colleague. A couple of the guys put on a skit for Ms. Hayes. After serving almost 28 years for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, DSO Alvena Hayes is retiring. Her colleagues from the Central Intake Section hosted her retirement celebration on August 28, 2013. Lt. Patrick Bonner led the festivities as some of the team presented a little skit in honor of the beloved Ms. Hayes. Sheriff Valdez and her executive staff thanked Ms. Hayes for her service to the department. During her remarks, Ms. Hayes stated that she would miss everyone, but she certainly would be on vacation.
Happy Retirement Captain Judi Pharr! After serving 33 years with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Captain Judi Pharr is retiring. She leaves the Human Resource Section for Captain Thomas Lolley to lead now. Happy trails, Captain Pharr! She received an official recognition before the Dallas County Commissioners Court on August 27, 2013, as well. Thank you for your contributions to this department.
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Announcements
Shoppers’ Corner
BABY ARRIVAL August 21, 2013: DSO P. Camacho, West Tower-2nd Watch, gave birth to a healthy girl. Baby Eva weighed in at 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 inches. Parents and baby are doing well. Congratulations!
DEATHS August 2, 2013: Georgia Mae Traylor, grandmother of DSO RoShunda Wooten, West Tower Court Desk, as well as DSO Tammy Island, West Tower, passed away. August 6, 2013: Carol Smith, Intake Section-DMU Clerk 5, passed away. August 16, 2013: Thomas Turner, uncle of Rose Tolbert, DMU Document Imaging Section, as well as her cousin Kenneth Davis Jr. passed away. August 16, 2013: Imogene Robertson, mother of DSO Angela Robertson, West Tower-2nd Watch, passed away. August 16, 2013: The father of Sgt. Shaw, SHOT/Release Section, passed away. August 16, 2013: Gladice Taylor, mother of DSO Mattie Rivers, Kays Tower-2nd Watch, passed away. August 16, 2013: Reynaldo Castillo, brother of DSO Regelio Castillo, SHOT/PMH team-1st Watch passed away.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Department throw blankets for sale This warm cozy blanket makes a good gift idea for the upcoming holidays, retirements or simply as a keepsake for yourself. 48’ X 68’ throw to keep you warm, $35.00 each
Anyone interested please contact Ms. Marian Ogletree at 214.653.3462.
August 24, 2013: Robert James Richard, father of Sheila Spearmon, Warrant Execution Research Section, passed away.
Our thoughts and prayers are with each family member during this difficult time.
Sheriff’s one inch badge lapel pins $3.50 each or get 3 for $10 Contact: Marian Ogletree 214.653.3462 Dallas County Sheriff’s Department 133 N. Riverfront Blvd. LB-31 Dallas, Texas 75207-4313
For submission of a newsletter item: Carmen.Castro@dallascounty.org
For the latest updates: www.dallas-sheriff.com
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