Around the Arch Blog

Reno Sergeant Jim Stegmaier reports that the traffic division found that these locations were the worst for crashes from April 1st – July 1st.
1) Moana Ln at Kietzke Ln
2) Kietzke Ln at S. McCarran Blvd
3) Plumb ln at Harvard Way
4) S. McCarran Blvd. at S. Virginia St
5) Robb Dr. at Sharlands Ave
6) Center St. at Maple St
7) 7th St at No. McCarran St
8)S. Virginia St at Plumb Ln.
9) 2nd St. at Arlington Ave
10) 7th St. at Keystone Ave

During a recent City Council meeting, Reno Police Chief Michael Poehlman awarded three employees for lifesaving efforts:
* Reno Code Enforcement Officer Cindi Gil-Blanco provided medical care to a young male bicyclist who was hit by a vehicle. Poehlman awarded her the Chief’s Accomodation.
* Reno Police Officer Robert Garlock began medical care on a stabbing suspect who was bleeding heavily from the neck while assailants watched from another apartment.
Poehlman awarded him the Lifesaving Award.
* Reno Police Officer Carlos Valles
rescued an elderly woman from a burning apartment building. Poehlman awarded him the Medal of Valor.
Pictured: Reno Police Chief Michael Poehlman, Code Enforcement Officer Cindi Gil-Blanco and Reno Police Officers Robert Garlock and Carlos Valles.

During today’s Reno City Council Meeting, Reno Police Chief Michael Poehlman and the City Council honored two RPD officers and a Reno code enforcement officer for their lifesaving acts.

Officer Carlos Valles was presented the Police Medal of Valor and Officer Robert Garlock the Lifesaving Award. The officers’ heroic, lifesaving acts warranted them both to receive two of the highest honors.

On January 7, 2010, Officer Garlock responded to a stabbing call and was the first to arrive on scene. After hearing a badly injured person was still inside the apartment, without hesitation or and while putting himself at risk as suspects were still in the area, Officer Garlock entered the apartment to help the victim. Garlock performed medical treatment for the severe bleeding until emergency medical attention arrived. Hospital personnel, who subsequently treated the victim, said Officer Garlock’s quick response to render aid to the victim prevented certain death.

On April 17, 2010, Officer Valles was the first to arrive on scene of a structure fire. Flames were engulfing the apartment of an elderly resident and thick, black smoke billowed from the front door. Due to the smoke neighbors were unable to try and rescue her. Officer Valles entered the apartment, crawled to the unconscious woman inside, and pulled her back outside to safety. Emergency medical personnel on scene said they believed the woman would not have survived if she had remained in the apartment a minute longer. Officer Valles was treated for smoke inhalation.

In addition to the two Reno Police Officer honors, City of Reno Code Enforcement Officer Cindi Gil-Blanco was presented the Chief’s Certificate of Commendation.

On May 12, 2010, Code Enforcement Officer Gil-Blanco was driving home after work when she observed a young man rolling down an embankment after being struck by a vehicle while on his bicycle. The man’s helmet had flown off his head after he was thrown several feet from the site of impact. Realizing he was not moving and was suffering from shock and head injuries, Gil-Blanco quickly came to his aid. Gil-Blanco used her experience as a former police officer, ski instructor, and the certified first aid training as a Code Officer to immediately provide medical treatment. In addition, Gil-Blanco took control of the scene until emergency responders arrived. The young man’s mother advised that thanks to Gil-Blanco’s immediate action her son is alive and stayed in good condition.

Under a Police Department reorganization, Acting Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts is increasing the number of community action officers. Currently, there are two officers in the program. They are dramatically curbing calls for services in the Pat Baker Park and Yori Park neighborhoods through communication and a proactive approach to problems. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ_N5gaIwIw]

The Reno Fire Department will be able to purchase firefighting equipment associated with a fuels-mitigation project in the urban wildland interface because of a grant from the U.S. Department of Interior.

Equipment to be purchased with the $250,000 Fire Safe Council grant will include a masticator (a large mulching machine used to clear brush and other fuels), a bobcat tractor, trailer, hand tools, and personal protective equipment.

The grant will complement the 2009 appropriation of $500,000 that was awarded to the Reno Fire Department through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Nevada Division of Emergency Management (DEM). The FEMA appropriation will pay for personnel who will use the Fire Safe Council grant funded equipment.

The fuels-mitigation project is expected to be conducted as early as next spring in several areas of the Northwest Reno, totally approximately 700 acres. Fuel reduction activities will include the removal of flashy fuels such as cheat grass and tumbleweeds along with other hazardous vegetation

Mitigating hazards to reduce the wildland fire threat in our urban community is essential. For more information about fire safety visit www.reno.gov or contact the Reno Fire Department’s Division of Fire Prevention at 775-334-2300.

The Reno City Council formed the Alcohol Advisory Committee to consider ways to curb problems that are taking place during late night and early morning hours in or outside of downtown bars. The group is considering options like possibly closing bars down at a certain time, making it more expensive to secure a bar license and other measures.

Tomorrow evening the latest class of volunteers for the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) of Northern Nevada will be graduating.

TIP volunteers assist emergency responders on scene, immediately following a tragedy or traumatic event. Volunteers provide emotional and practical support to the families and friends left behind after a natural death, drowning, suicide, vehicle accident, or sudden infant death (SIDS). Completion of the 40 hour TIP training followed by three month probation is needed to graduate.

TIP mimics first responder’s protocol in that volunteers are available at the request of emergency responders 365 days a year, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, and will arrive on scene within 20 minutes of being dispatched. TIP volunteers provide support to emergency responders and help to prevent citizens from experiencing a second injury.

The graduation ceremony will be held at 6:00 p.m. on May 19 at the Regional Public Safety and Training Center located at 5180 Spectrum Boulevard in room 105. Deputy Chief Evans with the Reno Police Department, Chief Keefer with Sparks Police Department, Lieutenant Balaam with Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Coroner Sara Mildebrandt with the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office, and TIP Board Members will be present to speak and present to the eight graduating volunteers. A cake and coffee reception will be held immediately following the graduation ceremony.

For more information on how to become a TIP volunteer visit their website at www.tipnnv.org or contact (775) 337-2112.

Do you need to file a report with the Reno Police Department but have little time and want to be able to do it at your own convenience? 

The Reno Police Department offers an online reporting service by which you can report a variety of criminal and civil activity, as well as accidents. It’s simple to use. Simply visit www.reno.gov and select “Police Reporting System” from the Self-Service menu.

Once your report is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Reno Police Department staff. A case number will be issued and sent to the e-mail address you provided. On-line reports are processed just as walk-in reports are. If applicable, and there is viable suspect information, the report will be forwarded to a detective for follow-up and investigation.

If you wish to use the system and don’t have a computer of your own, you may use any public-access terminal, such as the ones located at any Washoe County library.

Reno policemen and firefighters made this year’s American Red Cross Real Heroes list. The organization honors members of our community for their extraordinary courage in helping people and animals. Among the public safety people honored this year are firefighters Jesse Washington, Thomas Glover and Bernard Chapman, Captain Owen Hardy, Equipment Operator Darrell King, police officers Ron Field, Tom Alaksa, Dan Knight and Kevin Collins and Sergeant Colby Palmer.

The drug interdiction team relies on a special member of the K-9 unit to find drugs being transported through Reno. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvPXmwBOlsk]