Law enforcement never ends, not even for holidays

Randy Sibbett

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | midnight

On Oct. 2, Officer Johnson responded to the 700 block of Park Place to a report of a burglary. The victim reported that someone broke into a vehicle and stole a number of items. Later that morning all the items were found nearby except for an undisclosed amount of cash.

On Oct. 3, Officer Woolsey responded to the lobby of the Boulder City Police Department to meet with a citizen. The citizen reported that her brother has been stealing items from her and selling them to pawn shops. The citizen didn't want to file a report, just wanted to obtain information on a temporary protective order.

On Oct. 4, Officer Johnson responded to Art in the Park to a report of a grand larceny. A vendor reported that someone stole a box containing sandals valued at about $300.

On Oct. 4, Officer Tomao responded to Art in the Park to a report of a petit larceny. Upon arrival the officer discovered a vendor detaining two juveniles. Both juveniles were cited into Juvenile Conference Committee and released to their parents.

On Oct. 5, Officers Tomao and Salazar reported to the 1000 block of Nevada Way to a report of a grand larceny. A vendor reported that two suitcases containing jewelry valued at about $200,000 was stolen from Art in the Park. The victim also reported that they would check with another person in their party to see if they may have taken them for safekeeping.

On Oct. 6, Officer Healing responded to the lobby of the Boulder City Police Department to a report of a grand larceny. The victim reported that someone stole a purse, valued at about $300, from her booth at Art in the Park.

On Oct. 6, Officer Ham reported to the Buchanan Substation in the 1800 block of Buchanan Boulevard to a report of a theft of aluminum valued at about $500.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I would like to know why the Boulder City Police Department decided to give parking tickets that amounted to over $300 apiece during the Independence Day celebration. I believe that was unpatriotic. The chief should be ashamed. Does the Police Department have anything better to do than to chase down citizens who swear (f-word) on the street? Please advise!

A: Let's break this down into segments. First, law enforcement is an ongoing process that doesn't stop for celebrations or holidays. The officer apparently issued you a citation because you did something you shouldn't have done. Second, to claim that the officer or the department is unpatriotic because we issued a parking citation during the Independence Day celebration is simply ridiculous. Third, as long as the officer performed his or her job in a professional manner and within the scope of the law, the chief has no reason to be ashamed. Fourth, using the f-word on the street is something most citizens frown upon. The City Council certainly does, which is why they enacted a city code specifically addressing that very topic.

Q: Does Boulder City have a police helicopter?

A: No. Helicopters are extremely expensive to operate, and Boulder City couldn't possibly justify the expense. We're fortunate, however, because Metro is always willing to have their helicopter respond at no cost to us if it's available.

Q: Do the police treat everyone the same when it comes to drinking and driving?

A: A lot of people won't believe this, but the answer is yes. When I first became involved in law enforcement some 25 years ago, it was common practice for cops to simply give someone a ride home who was driving while intoxicated, especially if that person was another cop or a VIP. Those days are long gone.

A: Someone told me that cops never park directly in front of the house they're going to. Why?

Q: It's unsafe. We're most vulnerable when we're arriving at a call due to distractions such as talking on the radio, parking, exiting the vehicle, locking the vehicle, etc. We're trained to park a couple of houses away from the residence and walk the remaining distance in order to observe and make a more tactical approach.

Weekly Statistics

Incident Reports — 50

Traffic Stops — 116

Citations Issued — 85

Adult Arrests — 14

Juvenile Arrests — 1

Animal Control Calls — 101

Randy Sibbett, a Boulder City patrol officer, can be contacted at rsibbett@bcnv.org.