Volume 13 Number 06
JUNE 2013 HIGHLIGHTS
Behind The BADGE DALLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FROM THE SHERIFF The summer months bring along many outdoor festivities. It’s the perfect time for law enforcement officials to remind the public to be safe when heading out on the road. This month we had the opportunity to send some representatives to take part in this year’s Traffic Safety Conference in Fort Worth. I also had the pleasure of meeting some amazing individuals thanks to a public awareness campaign sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation. Always put safety first!
—Sheriff Lupe Valdez Inside this issue:
TxDOT’s “Faces of Drunk Driving” campaign
Traffic Safety Conference
BCOC Class #289
“The Out List” Premiere
Employee of the Month Honors
Meet our Intern
DMU 15-Min. Workout
Retirement
Next Executive Staff Evening Shift: July 24 and 25, 2013 Aug. 7 and 8, 2013
Dallas.Sheriff.Dept
@dallas_sheriff
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department took part in TxDOT’s campaign “Faces of Drunk Driving” at Lee Park on June 27, 2013. Sheriff Lupe Valdez, along with deputies, attended a public awareness campaign sponsored by TxDOT. At center stage were testimonies of survivors whose lives changed because of a drunk driver. Nine-year-old Chilli Vasquez was on her way home when the car she was traveling in was hit by a drunk driver in Fort Worth. The driver was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Chilli will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. "It's bad, because people get hurt and their lives change," Chilli said. "Please don't drink and drive, ever." Last year, more than 25,000 alcohol-related crashes took place on Texas roads. The 4th of July holiday ranks among the deadliest days of the year and it is why Sheriff Lupe Valdez and deputies remind drivers not to drink and drive. It is why the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department will once again take part in a No-Refusal DWI Initiative. During this initiative officers will secure a search warrant for a blood sample from all persons arrested for DWI who refuse to voluntarily give a breath and/or blood sample.
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2013 Traffic Safety Conference
Pictured above-left: Gary Lindsey / Pictured above-right: Captain Mark Howard Chief Gary Lindsey took part in the 2013 Traffic Safety Conference in Fort Worth. He served as one of the presenters in a North Texas regional traffic incident management session. Chief Lindsey’s focus was on the important role played by traffic crash data collection, analysis and response, when it comes to reducing the number of fatalities on the road. He presented along with Ron Moore from the North Central Texas Council of Governments and Rick Chron, a towing instructor/general manager. In addition, Captain Mark Howard and Sergeant Daniel Plummer joined Texas Department of Transportation representatives on the importance of accountability when it comes to monitoring grant funds. Some of the department’s internal auditing discrepancies have assisted in modifying grant funding guidelines at a statewide level.
Congratulations BCOC Class #289
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HBO’s “The Out List” featuring Sheriff Valdez
Pictured above: Sheriff Lupe Valdez and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders pose before a television interview on “Good Morning Texas” to talk about the Dallas film premiere of the HBO documentary “The Out List”. Sheriff Lupe Valdez is among 16 individuals nationwide featured in the HBO documentary airing this summer “The Out List”. Filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders traveled to Dallas to co-host a premiere in June. WFAA’s morning anchor Ron Corning moderated a brief Q&A session with the sheriff and Greenfield-Sanders at the Angelika Theater. The documentary takes a look at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in America. Some of the other featured people include Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris and Wanda Sykes. Sheriff Valdez also had the opportunity to attend the New York City premiere of the film. The June 27 nationwide premiere marked the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and some key Supreme Court rulings about the state and federal gay marriage laws. Pictured below –left: Sheriff Lupe Valdez with WFAA’s morning anchor Ron Corning and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders Below-right: Sheriff Valdez with supporters at the Dallas premiere.
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Volume 13 Number 06
Employee of the Month Honors DSO Rosalind Reeves DSO Rosalind Reeves selects qualified inmates to participate in re-entry programs with various community agencies. Officer Reeves has earned the reputation for her high ethical standard of performance. She respects the dignity of fellow officers, community volunteers, and detainees alike. Her professionalism, courteous disposition and radiant smile are qualities she bestows upon the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and community. She delivers exceptional service to community volunteers and stakeholders always treating individuals with respect, answering questions to help resolve problems, and following up to ensure satisfaction. In addition, Officer Reeves proudly represents the department in various capacities throughout the community.
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DSO John Cannon DSO John Cannon’s primary responsibilities are to maintain the cleanness and up keep of the West Tower Jail, assisting with escorting inmates back and forth to court, as well as serving the magistrate court officer, video officer, daily floor relief officer. Cannon displays a great deal of enthusiasm, professionalism, ambition and leadership. He is always willing to assist co-workers when and where needed. Cannon has gained a great deal of respect from his supervisors, co-workers, as well as the inmates. Cannon works well under pressure and is willing to lead by example, while performing any given task, which make him a great asset to this department.
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Intern Spotlight Members of the American Jail Association will be in Dallas next year for their annual conference, April 27-30, 2014. The Dallas Sheriff’s Department will host this awesome event and it cannot be successful without YOU!! Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas. Please contact Aimee Jordan (Kramer) if you are interested in being considered for this opportunity. Help will be needed in the areas of; hospitality, photography, transportation, administration and more. This is a chance for jail professionals from all across the nation to see what a great group of officers we have.
Intern Dijonai Glover attends Texas Woman's University. She is working on a degree in psychology, with a minor in criminal justice.
Please email aimee.jordan@dallascounty.org if you are interested. Provide your name and assignment as well as an email address, contact number (email will be the most frequent form of contact) and any specific area where you are interested in helping out.
Happy Retirement! Side Note: Ms. Willingham did leave the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department DMU team with a heart-pumping legacy. You, too, can join in on the morning fun. Before her departure, Ms. Willingham and some other DMU colleagues began a 15 minute workout routine to get their blood flowing during their break time. After 11 years of service, Ms. Dorothy Willingham, of the Data Management Unit, will retire.
The routine takes place at 9:30 a.m. in the Intake detail room. 15 minutes of this workout equals to the same as doing one mile. Join in! 9:30 a.m. for a 15-minute workout.
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Announcements
CONGRATS June 27, 2013: Deputy Darrell Watson, Civil Enforcement/Warrant Execution, and his wife Ashlea became new parents to a new baby girl, Emerson Grace Watson. She weighed 9 lbs. 1 oz., and was 20 3/4 inches long. Everyone is doing fine. Congratulations!
DSO is now on Nixle! TEXT your ZIP CODE to 888777 for text notifications on latest advisories, alerts, such as cases when the public’s assistance is requested. 888777
DEATHS June 4, 2013: Ernest A. Embry, Sr., father of Detective Ernie Embry, of the Vehicles Crimes Unit, passed away. June 12, 2013: Dr. Shirley Finn, mother-in-law of Deputy Janet Curry -Finn, Office of Administration, passed away. June 20, 2013: Maggie B. Pitts Banks, mother of Verna Daniels, secretary for the Physical Evidence Section passed away. June 23, 2013: Wanda Jean Johnson Crouch, mother of Captain A. King, West Tower Jail, passed away. June 23, 2013: Betty Parker, sister of Anita Parker, Clerk 6– Records/Intake Section, passed away. June 24, 2013: David Woods, Sr., father of Deputy David Woods, Civil Enforcement Section, passed away.
Our thoughts and prayers are with each family member during this difficult time.
Shoppers’ Corner
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:
For the latest updates:
Carmen.Castro@dallascounty.org
www.dallas-sheriff.com
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