Volume 12 Number 4 WE HONOR, WE DON’T FORGET MAY 2012
Behind The BADGE DALLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
FROM THE SHERIFF The month of May serves as a time for reflection. We reflect on our fallen national heroes; whether it’s in the military forces or as law enforcement officers. It all serves as a reminder of why we chose to go into the law enforcement field; to serve the community. Even further, here at the Dallas Sheriff’s Department we have the added dimension in our detention service staff who also deserves to be recognized for their commitment in helping keep our communities safe. Thank you for doing your part. - Sheriff Lupe Valdez
Inside this issue:
11th Annual Click It or Ticket Campaign
MAAD ―Take The Wheel‖ Awards
Inmate Programs Division
Transportation Unit’s Motherly Tribute
Kudos TDCJ Desk
Resolana Celebrates
Texas Jail Association Conference
Cost of Freedom Tribute
Fallen Deputies Memo- Pictured above: The sheriff speaks at a press conference in front of Reunion rial Ceremony Tower.
Sunnyvale Honorary Deputy Hansen
Dragon Boat Racing
Retirements Like us on Facebook:
facebook.com/Dallas.Sheriff.Dept
@dallas_sheriff
A two-ton pickup truck suspended in midair near Reunion Tower served as the backdrop for TxDOT’s 11th Annual Click it or Ticket seat belt campaign launch. The May 3 event focused on the importance of buckling up, especially among those who drive in trucks, which statistics show, are more reluctant to do so. In 2011, only 80.3 percent of pickup truck passengers used seat belts as compared to 92.4 percent of passengers in other vehicles. To ensure that Texans comply with seat belt laws, law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Dallas Sheriff’s Department launched an enforcement period from May 21 through June 3, which included the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
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Dallas County “Take the Wheel” Law Enforcement Awards
Pictured top left: Deputy Scott Selby, Deputy Guerrero Gutierrez, Sheriff Lupe Valdez, S.Sgt. Bryan Sherman; Top right: Deputy Rebecca Evans, Deputy Vaudelio Zuñiga; Bottom left: CW33’s Amanda Salinas with the sheriff; Bottom right: Deputy S. Selby and Deputy G. Gutierrez with S.Sgt. Bryan Sherman. During the May 4 event, Deputy Rebecca Evans and Deputy Vaudelio Zuñiga were awarded the 2011 Commitment to Youth Award by MADD of Dallas County. This award goes to the top two officers in Dallas County who exemplified superior commitment to underage drinking prevention through education and enforcement. The duo normally works overtime DWI enforcement as partners. Since 2007, they have made over 40 adult DWI arrests and 30 DWI underage arrests. They lead the department in the number of arrests for underage DWIs. Deputy Evans and Deputy Zuñiga were recently featured in an article for La Estrella, a Spanish weekly paper in Fort Worth. In addition, Deputy Scott Selby and Deputy Guerrero Gutierrez were awarded the Enforcement Hero Award, for their efforts in combatting Dallas County's DWI offenses through traffic enforcement. Senior Sergeant Bryan Sherman was also recognized with the Commitment Hero Award, given to an officer who exemplifies a strong overall commitment to DWI enforcement. The DWI enforcement operation, over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, was another success, with no fatality accidents to report and 14 DWI arrests.
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Spotlight: Inmate Programs Division Officer David Sims Inventive Cost Saving Spirit Officer David Sims is the technical officer assigned to the Inmate Programs Division. He cleverly created and designed a stand to safely mount the flat screen TVs onto a rolling cart by using metal scraps and accessories. By engineering his own design, Officer Sims saved the Dallas Sheriff's Department over $1,500. This is a perfect example of innovative thinking! Hats off to Sims.
Transportation Unit Shows Love
The Transportation Team hosted a warm breakfast just in time for Mother’s Day Weekend. Cheers to all the hardworking mothers, as well as other ladies who serve as a mother-like figure to someone in their
Congrats Chief Wilson
Chief Cheryl Wilson was recently awarded a certificate of merit from the Dallas Police Department for her exemplary conduct and excellence in police performance.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FUN ACTIVITIES Chaperones needed for youth activities Sun. July 22– Tues. July 24, 2012 at the Sheriff’s Association of Texas conference. Meals and admission tickets are provided FREE. Must be 21 and up.
Sun. 7/22, 15 chaperones needed 4 p.m.-9 p.m. activities to be determined
Mon. 7/23, 25 chaperones needed 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Dallas World Aquarium & NRH2O Water Park
Tues. 7/24 25 chaperones 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; 20 chaperones 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Cowboys Stadium & Six Flags
CONTACT Capt. David Mitchell: david.mitchell@dallascounty.org or 214.653.5983 AND JOIN THE FUN
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Kudos to the TDCJ Desk Team The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, TDCJ Desk, part of the Release Section, was recently recognized by Dallas County for their contributions to helping reduce the jail population. The staff of six has reduced the time from dispo to paper-ready by 7 days, when it used to take, on average, 25 days. The time reduction essentially helps save about $415 per inmate a day.
Pictured above from left to right: Sgt. Temple. Ms. Gibson, Ms. Cox, Ms. Hughes, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Thompson and Ms. Vanzant.
In March, the TDCJ Desk sent 823 inmates to TDCJ. The projected potential savings would be an estimated $340,000 if the processing remains at this steady pace.
A 3-mile walk event was hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, on May 12. The event was held at The Band Shell at Fair Park. This year, NAMI Walks, which are hosted in several U.S. cities, celebrated their 10th anniversary.
Pictured above from left to right: Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Capt. Shelia Carter-Bass and Dallas County Public Defender Lynn Richardson
The funds raised are used to provide free educational and support programs for families impacted by mental illness, advocacy efforts, as well as to underwrite new programs and services to meet the growing demand. In the last decade, over 450 NAMI Walks have helped raise more than $50 million and hosted over 650,000 participants.
Tatum Elementary School Career Day Officer Rosalind Reeves, Instructor Cynthia Paschall, Officer Glenn King, Instructor Julian Caranza visited the students at Tatum Elementary School in Pleasant Grove for career day. The group has volunteered at the fair the past two years.
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Resolana Dedicated Tank: One Year Anniversary Celebration
Left photo: Singer/Songwriter Melinda Wood Allen, Right photo: Participants of the Resolana pod take part in the one year anniversary musical celebration hosted on May 12 in Kays Tower. The 60-plus women, residents of the Resolana pod in Kays Tower recently celebrated the one year anniversary of their dedicated program. Since its launch in March 2011, 446 women have taken advantage of its resources. When the program first began, 150 women applied and only 64 were selected. Bette Boschow, founder of Resolana—a nonprofit that educates and empowers women behind bars—said the unusual opportunity to break new programming ground at the Dallas County Jail has dramatically expanded the program’s reach and effectiveness. ―We’re so grateful for the crucial support of the jail staff, the Inmate Programs Department and Sheriff Valdez as we help motivated women break the cycle of incarceration,‖ said Boschow. Resolana’s program now offers women almost twice as many hours of service, about 40 each week. Most of the programming is in the form of classes, workshops and 12-step support meetings that address substance abuse issues participants face. The women also participate in community meetings three times a week. Program coordinators now offer case management services. During the May 9 celebration, singer/songwriter Melinda Wood Allen paid the women a visit. The group shared melancholic melodies, as well as some more comical musical lyrics. Allen has performed at many theaters, churches and events across the metroplex, including in the Dawson State Jail. During her performance, the artist shared her personal experience with domestic violence, addiction and the 12-step journey she took to maintain strength and hope in her life. Resolana, which is Spanish for ―sunny side of the plaza‖, started programming at the Dallas County Jail in 2006. In addition to the Kays Tower program, the program also offers 36 classes to 100 women in the West Tower. The event was also served to introduce Resolana’s new executive director Amy Gill who started her duties in April. Gill is the former director of development and public relations at Nexus Recovery Center, which provides specialized substance abuse assistance to Dallas women.
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Texas Jail Association Conference in Austin
Pictured above: Deputy P. Limones, R. Wright, Oatman, A.Robinson, Sgt. Quiroga, Mitchell, A. Kramer and Chief J. Herrera. Chief Jesse Herrera and Deputy Porfirio Limones were among those who represented the Dallas Sheriff’s Department at this year’s Texas Jail Association Conference in Austin. The annual conference provides a unified voice for correctional officers and discusses the latest jail commission updates, as well as any legislative measures that affect the field, among other topics. Coincidentally, the 26th annual conference falls on the same month as what’s designated as a National Correctional Officer and Employee week, May 6 -12, 2012, as proclaimed by the president and executive director of the American Correctional Association. We salute those who quietly go about their business in the corrections profession on a daily basis.
Cost of Freedom Tribute
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute made a stop just before the Memorial Day Weekend. With them, they brought a replica of the Vietnam Wall which was briefly on display at Fair Park. The welcome ceremony kicked off with a caravan of motorcycles, mostly Vietnam Veterans who stopped for the special event at Dallas City Hall. The Dallas Sheriff’s Department color guard team and Sheriff Lupe Valdez took time to pay tribute to the men and women who have served their country.
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Fallen Deputy Memorial Ceremony May 18, 2012
We honor, We don’t forget The 5th annual fallen deputies memorial ceremony was held at Founders Plaza on May 18, 2012. This year’s ceremony was coordinated by Lt. Raymond Williams, of the Freeway Management Division. 19 patrol cars with their sirens on kicked off this year’s procession in honor of the 19 deputies who have paid the ultimate sacrifice since the establishment of the Dallas Sheriff’s Department in 1846. The first fatal incident took place in January 1871, when Deputy James McMahan, who was on his first day of duty, and his partner Deputy Charles Nichols were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect. The most recent was Deputy James Robert Allman who died in a car accident on August 5, 1995. Allman was responding to a call about a suspicious person when his cruiser went out of control and struck a tree, killing him.
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R.I.P. Honorary Deputy Atticus Eric Hansen
The Dallas Sheriff’s Department helped fulfill Atticus Eric Hansen’s wish to ride in a patrol vehicle. Chief Marlin Suell (pictured above-bottom left), with the assistance of Sheriff Lupe Valdez via teleconference, presided over Hansen’s swearing in ceremony at Sunnyvale Town Hall on May 17. In January, the 4-year-old was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor known as DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). Sgt. Russell Jacks (pictured above-top left) arranged to have Atticus picked up at his home and ride in a patrol car for his special assignment. Upon arrival at town hall, he was to write-up his grandma a citation for failure to make a complete stop a block before arriving, but the little guy had a change of heart and let her go. Many family, friends and city officials were present for the ceremony. After he was officially sworn in as Deputy Hansen, he and his family were presented with several mementos on behalf of the sheriff’s department that included a toy replica patrol car, a few hats, a sheriff’s department blanket, and some framed art work. Sunnyvale Mayor Jim Phaup declared May 20-27, 2012 ―Atticus Eric Hansen Week‖. He lost his battle to cancer on May 27.
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#TeamBlueStars 2012 DFW Dragon Boat Festival
The annual tradition continued as the Dallas Sherriff’s Department competed in the annual dragon boat festival in Irving at Lake Carolyn. Team Blue Stars competed in the co-ed division, which requires 8 women to be part of the 20-person team. The team competed against two other teams, through three rounds of intense competition winning all three races. Unfortunately, the overall competition was built for more speed and Team Blue Stars did not place in the top spots. Nevertheless, it was a fun-filled day where all team members put in hard work. Team coordinators are already making plans to recruit an all men’s team next year to compliment the co-ed team, to be known as Team All-Stars. To learn more about the annual Irving event hosted by the Marco Polo World Foundation log on to www.dfwdragonboatfestival.com.
Congratulations Graduates!
The latest deputy class which began school in December graduated on May 24, 2012. The ceremony was held at the Scottish Rite Hospital auditorium with family and friends in attendance.
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Announcements BIRTHS– May 2, 2012: Kays Tower DSO Gary D. Aven, and his wife Melissa Aven, a court clerk in the 363rd District Court welcome baby Alyson Tynleigh-Aven into the world. The baby who weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. is the granddaughter of Deputy Gary Aven, of the Bailiff Section. Congratulations!
Shoppers’ Corner Sheriff’s Department Throw
GET WELL WISHES– May 17, 2012: Pool Bailiff Jimmy Ramsey, Personnel Section, was admitted to Dallas Regional Hospital. Testing was being conducted. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. DEATHS - May 6, 2012: Retired Deputy Pat Earle passed away at the age of 59. He had been battling diabetes and other illnesses since January. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor and good nature. May 11, 2012: Deborah Ann Marlowe, who retired from the Fugitive Section last December, lost her battle with cancer. She served 32 years with the department. She was a great friend and always had a smile on her face. Rest In Peace
48’ X 68’ throw to keep you warm, $35.00 each
Sheriff’s one inch badge lapel pins $3.50 each or get 3 for $10 Contact: Semone Lilly (214) 653-3462
Our thoughts and prayers are with each family member during this difficult time.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Department 133 N. Riverfront Blvd. LB-31 Dallas, Texas 75207-4313
For submission of items to the newsletter—send to the Public Information Officer at Sheriffmedia@dallascounty.org
For the latest updates:
www.dallas-sheriff.com
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Contributions Benefit the Dallas Sheriff’s Citizens Academy
Contact Ed Clark at 214-951-7467 The Sheriff’s Citizens Academy is not funded by the Sheriff’s Department and depends wholly on contributions for goods, services, monies or profits made from the sale items.
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Support the Dallas Sheriff’s Citizens Academy
Contact Ed Clark at 214-951-7467 The Sheriff’s Citizens Academy is not funded by the Sheriff’s Department and depends wholly on contributions for goods, services, monies or profits made from the sale items.