NLV Police start program for kids

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 | 10:40 a.m.

Sometimes the bad kids are the only ones who get attention, but the North Las Vegas Police Officer Association wants to change that in North Las Vegas schools.

Seven students at Raul P. Elizondo Elementary School on Tuesday were the first children recognized by the PACE (Police and Community Enrichment) Setters program.

"The good kids don't always get much attention, so we wanted to reward good behavior," said Officer Brad Walch, president of the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, which started the new program. "We know that peer pressure can lead to joining gangs.

"We want you kids to be pressured into being good instead of bad," Walch told the students gathered for the kickoff of the program.

Walch said the program was born out of desire to curb problems with gangs, violence and drugs in schools. The police union will take the program to all North Las Vegas schools, offering incentives and rewards such as T-shirts, bicycles and even college scholarships.

For the elementary school students, the certificates and T-shirts seemed to do the trick. Six of the first seven children were all smiles as they shook North Las Vegas Police Chief Joey Tillmon's hand.

One -- 5-year-old Zack O'Mahar -- seemed a little upset by all the people looking at him. He cried a little as Tillmon came over shook his hand and gave him the shirt.

"He's a little shy and sometimes the quiet ones get overlooked," said Kristina O'Mahar, Zack's mother. "This is great because it focuses on the positive things the kids do."

Tillmon also praised the program as a way to reward children for their good behavior, grades and staying away from drugs, crime and violence.

Walch said the program could also improve relationships between the students and officers.

"When I was a kid, I was afraid of the police," he said. "This lets the kids meet and talk with the officers in a positive way."