The Washoe County Sheriff's Office discontinued publishing their monthly Community Newsletters in April, 2018. The Sheriff's office continues to enhance their social media presence and invites you to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and most recently, Instagram, to get original content, in-depth bios, personal and agency information, upcomming events, live videos, photos, breaking news, case updates, and multiple ways to engage and interact with them.

To view past issues (back to January, 2011), click here...

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Street Number Signs Available to Help 1st Responders Find You
- a project of the South Valley Volunteer Fire Department

It might not seem like it but a simple house number can be the difference between life and death. That's why signs are getting installed from Toll Road all the way to the south end of Washoe Valley. The coverage areas also now includes Callahan Ranch and Galena. It's a process that only takes a few minutes, but can save valuable time during an emergency.

The South Valley Volunteer Fire Department is installing the signs for public safety in rural areas. "If we can't find you, we can't help you," says Katie Patterson. The Washoe Valley homes have house numbers, but locating them is another story. "We find numbers on mailboxes, we find numbers on sides of houses, on fences. And honestly, when you're trying to respond to a call, the last thing you want to do is take the time to be trying to figure out if you are at the right house."

That's a problem some residents know, all too well. Especially at night with little to no lighting. "We've heard stories of people having to flash their porch light off and on so they can figure out which house it is because there's no way of them seeing the house numbers on the houses from the street," one Washoe Valley resident said. Another resident adds, "We've had to call the fire department and REMSA before. REMSA couldn't even find us."

The reflective signs are two-sided, set up just off the road in a uniform pattern in a place where first responders are trained to look for to find the right house, the first time they drive down the street. "It is absolutely a life-saving process. There is no time to delay. A fire is easy to find. A medical, not so much. You can't see somebody inside their house," says Patterson.

6,200 letters have been sent out to residents from Toll Road through Washoe Valley letting them know about the new signs.

Since the program started in 2015, more than 800 have been installed so far (10/2018). They're catching on. We've had neighbors buying them for neighbors. The more we have up the better it's going to be. We want them so that when you drive down the road, anybody can find you.

The signs cost $25.00 apiece and the South Valley Volunteer Fire Department will install them for you. If you live in these areas, you can order one - or you can make a donation to help pay for more signs. Just call Katie Patterson at (775) 240-6977.

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kits

Reno, Nevada. Sept. 6, 2016. September is National Preparedness Month and Washoe County's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is reminding residents what to do to prepare for disasters and emergencies. Each week in September, Washoe County Emergency Management is distributing personal preparedness tips to help people prepare by making emergency plans, getting involved, assembling emergency kits and staying informed.

Preparedness Tip #1: Make an Emergency Kit: An emergency kit is simply a collection of basic items you may need in the event of an emergency. The items in this kit will be necessary if you will need to shelter-in-place or evacuate. Assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency, and update annually. Store supplies in easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. Include items such as:

• At least a 72-hour supply of water (one gallon per person per day). Identify the storage date and replace every six months.
• At least a 72-hour supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food. Learn more about putting together an emergency stockpile with healthy food at: http://www.getreadyforflu.org/new_pg_advice_healthystockpile.htm
• Non-electric can opener
• Change of clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes for every person in your household
• Blankets and/or sleeping bags
• First aid kit and prescription medications
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries
• Credit cards and cash
• Extra set of car keys
• List of important family information
• Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members
• Style and serial number of medical devices
• Don't forget Fido and Fluffy! Include dry pet food, kitty litter, medications and water

For more information about building your emergency kit, please visit: https://www.washoecounty.us/em/preparedness/AssembleKit.php.

Media Release For Immediate Release www.tmfpd.us

Contact: Amy Ray aray@tmfpd.us 775-326-6005 14-123

Reno, Nevada. July 16, 2014. It’s not unusual for monsoonal weather patterns to pay Northern Nevada a visit this time of year bringing heavy rain, wind, thunder and sometimes lightning. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District wants to make sure people are taking extra precautions when thunderstorms threaten. When there is thunder and lightning in your area, you should turn off your computers and stay off corded phones and other devices that put you in direct contact with electricity or plumbing.

“We appreciate the public’s help looking for lightning-sparked fires, but before calling 911, please look at the area for awhile and watch for any smoke or fire,” said TMFPD Chief Charles Moore. “If you see smoke or fire from a lightning strike, having an accurate location is very helpful, such as 200 yards north of my residence at 1234 Elm Street, for example.”

Safety tips during thunderstorms:

• If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning. Look for shelter.
• Do not go under trees for shelter. No place is safe outside during thunderstorms.
• Wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder before leaving shelter.
• Stay away from windows and doors. Stay off porches.

If a person is struck by lightning, call 9-1-1. Get medical help right away.

For more safety tips head to the NFPA website....

 

Press Release #:	1300108
Date Issued:	Oct 07, 2013 - 9:21am
Sheriff's Office urges residents to "Take ConTRoL" and help reduce vehicle burglaries throughout Washoe County
CONTACT:	Bob Harmon Washoe County Sheriff's Office Office 775-785-6235 Cell 775-771-8252

Over the past few months, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office identified an increasing number of vehicle burglaries involving unlocked cars in the Galena area. Washoe County Sheriff's Office resources were directed to the area, which resulted in Detectives arresting several juveniles suspected of being responsible for a number of these burglaries in early August.

As part of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office efforts to reduce this crime trend and sustain the reduction, the Sheriff’s Office would like to provide the public with information they can use to help keep their vehicles, and their valuables, safe.

“Vehicle burglaries are generally crimes of opportunity,” Undersheriff Tim Kuzanek said. “If we work together to take away that opportunity, we reduce crime.”

This week, the Sheriff’s Office launched the “Take ConTRoL” campaign which focuses on steps all of us can take to prevent vehicle burglaries.

The key messages of the Take ConTRoL campaign are:

C – Clean it Out: remove valuables from your vehicle
T – Take your keys with you. Never leave your car running
R – Report suspicious activity or crimes to the proper authorities as soon as possible
L – Lock your doors every time. Sheriff’s Office statistics show that 75 percent of this year’s vehicle burglaries involved vehicles that were left unlocked

The Sheriff's information campaign includes a mailing of nearly 1,000 postcards to Galena area residents with Take ConTRoL information. Roadside reader boards will also be placed along Zolezzi Lane, reminding residents to lock their doors.

“Our focus is on the Galena community due to the fact that the data indicates the current crime trend is the most active in that area,” Undersheriff Kuzanek said.  “However, this information is a valuable reminder to all residents as vehicle burglaries take place in every community of Washoe County.”

Additional cards will be distributed as needed. Information about vehicle burglary prevention is available on the Sheriff’s website, WashoeSheriff.com, by using the “Staying Safe” link.

Washoe County residents can also stay informed on public safety trends from the Sheriff’s Office via Twitter by following: @WashoeSheriff, or by signing up for the Sheriff’s monthly Community Partnership Connection e-newsletter atWashoeSheriff.com. These monthly email publications offer practical and valuable information that can help keep residents safe along with updates about Sheriff's Office programs, services and partnerships within the community.

More and more people are turning to social media or their smartphone for information. That's why the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross decided to launch some disaster relief apps, which allow you to get information and map out a safety plan.

"You are able to set it to your area, so you can see the wildfires that are around," said Karli Epstein, development director of the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross. "You can also save your plan inside the app. Your families members can access it and you can have that saved. You can take pictures of things, as well as have designated family members and checklists right in the app."

The apps are completely free to download.

The Red Cross has a number of apps. Each app has been designed for a specific type of disaster.

Epstein said the best ones for Northern Nevadans are the earthquake and wildfire apps.

Once you download them, you can connect to the Safe and Well website, which is run by the Red Cross. On Safe and Well, you can let family and friends know you are okay and which American Red Cross shelter you are staying.

The disaster apps also show where American Red Cross shelters are located in the area.

"So if you ever have to evacuate and you don't have access to a computer and your power is down and you don't have a TV, you can actually see where our shelters are and you can go there and get help."

Written by Chris Ciarlo, KTVN News, 09/16/13

NOTE: While the free kits are only available in January & February,
checking for Radon is always inportant.

January is Radon Awareness Month

Radon is the leading cause of cancer among nonsmokers and causes 21,000 deaths in the US each year. In January, the UNR Cooperative Extension (UNCE) in conjuction with the Nevada State Health Division offers informational presentations and free radon test kits. You may call the UNCE at (775) 336-0252 or visit them at extension.unr.edu/radon/Default.aspx. At this website, you can find a list of locations where you can pick up free test kits. The kits should be available through February (as supplies last).

At the website, you can also learn more about what radon is, what the risks are, how to test for it and how to mitigate if you have a problem (incluing links to certified Radon Mitigator Contractors).

Nevada & Washoe County have many areas with higher levels of radon. Everyone should test their home to be sure you are informed. Testing is easy. All the instructions are included with each kit.

Washoe County sheriff's Office
New Mobile App

UPDATED October 15, 2013: This app is now also available for Android Users

Want to report a crime? Now there's an app for that if you're in Washoe County and have an iPhone or iPad. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office unveiled their new app on June 3, 2013. According to Undersheriff Todd Vinger, the app lets you access many different areas of the sheriff's department all right at your fingertips. You can:

• File Online Reports - 20 different online reports can be sent from the app.
• Graffiti Abatement - use you device's camera and anonymously submit to the Sheriff's office. Photos are geo-tagged so the locations is included with you photo. Optionally, you can include you contact infor and comments.
• Inmate Search - You can get information on inmates or find out if an inmate is in the jail.
• Newsletter Sign Ups - easily sign up to receive your own copy of the WCSO Community Partnership Connection eNewsletter.
• Contact Us - access the Sheriff's office phone number, email address, map to the office as well as links to their Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and RSS feeds.

The app is free through the Apple store (iOS) or from Google Play Store (Android).

05/31/13 - Update from Washoe County Community Relations Team

At the May 28, 2013 Board of Commissioners meeting, nine new Citizen Advisory Boards were created. The purpose of the advisory boards is to provide information to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners on issues affecting our communities. The nine Citizen Advisory Boards replace the current board structure. A special thank you to all who attended each public hearing, participated in presentations, submitted your ideas and concerns and shared your personal vision. This is the first milestone to establishing the program this summer.

The nine new advisory boards stretch across each Commission district. A list of the current Washoe County Citizen Advisory Boards includes:

• East Truckee Canyon	• Sun Valley
• Incline Village/Crystal Bay	• Verdi Township
• North Valleys	• Warm Springs/Rural
• South Truckee Meadows/Washoe Valley	• West Truckee Meadows
• Spanish Springs

To view the new CAB boundaries, please download the Citizen Advisory Board map.

Each of the advisory boards is unique in member composition and meeting frequency. Providing for variability between boards allows them to fit the needs of each community and Commissioner. To view the annual meeting frequency and number of board members, please download the 2013 CAB Summary. Additional specific details on the meeting times and locations will follow shortly.

Recruitment for the new boards begins June 1! Since the Citizen Advisory Boards were created as new boards, each member position (totaling 71) will need to be filled as a new position. Since these boards are new, during this appointment process half of the positions will be filled for full terms and the other half for partial terms.

Applying to a new member or interested in continuing on a Citizen Advisory Board, please submit an application by July 12th at 5 p.m. (available online). Applications can be submitted:

• By email to cab@washoecounty.us
• By fax to 775.328.2037, Attn: Andrea Tavener
• By mail to the Manager's Office, P.O. Box 11130 Reno, Nevada 89520

If you have additional questions on member appointments, please contact Andrea Tavener, CAB Program Assistant at 775.328.2720 or email cab@washoecounty.us.

Applicants will be selected by Commissioners in July and will be followed quickly by a required Citizen Advisory Board training. Scheduling for the first Citizen Advisory Board meetings will be complete in July with initial meetings scheduled this summer depending upon the CAB meeting schedule. Many Commissioners have expressed an interest in supporting current and recent members who wish to continue to serve. If you are a current or recent member and wish to continue, please submit an application to help us streamline the appointment and record management tasks.

During the CAB recruitment period, we are also working on changes to ordinances that govern the appointment of advisory board members, establishing recording secretary contracts and logistics for the initial meetings and training. If you have questions during this time, please feel free to contact any of our team members.

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Previous background information regarding CIRP may be found below...

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Washoe County Citizen Revitalization Project Update (CIRP) - During the March 26 Washoe County Commission meeting, Commissioners had a robust discussion about the project. This continued during the April 9th Board meeting. In addition, the Board continued the hold on the Citizen Advisory Board meetings until an adopted structure can be implemented. Board members were unified in their desire to have advisory board meetings in their areas, and we look forward to getting final decisions so that we can start the program up again. Staff will also provide an implementation plan for the advisory board program at the April 23 Board meeting following the Board direction on April 9.

Following the April 23rd Board of Commissioners meeting, the following update was sent from Sarah Tone, Washoe County Liaison:

Dear Citizen Advisory Board Members and Community,

Thank you for continuing to participate in your communities and provide feedback on local government issues. This email is a quick update on the Washoe County advisory board program.

Staff is targeting July to schedule initial advisory board meetings for up to 9 citizen advisory boards in Washoe County.  The new advisory board structure will be established based on citizen input over the past 12 months, as well as direction from the County Commission.  The boards that are proposed will be appointed by Commissioners, will  meet regularly on schedules tailored to each area, and will utilize Open Meeting Law in order to insure effective, efficient meetings that provide full public disclosure.  In order to make the July deadline, we are focused on creating the up to 9 boards by resolution, reviewing and updating  guiding County codes and handbooks, and completing administrative duties including updating recording secretarial contracts and internal data management.

The expected timeframe to recruit, appoint and train members for the advisory boards is June 2013, and, at the April 23 Commission meeting, multiple Commissioners expressed interest in reappointing members who are interested in being on one the new advisory boards.  Please check in late May or early June for more information on the recruitment and appointment process.

Between now and July, you will see notice of meeting cancellations distributed for those CAB's that still have quorums . At Board direction, our current Citizen Advisory Board meetings continue to be on hold until our new structure can be fully implemented. Please mark your calendars for July to check back on new board schedules.

At every meeting, staff has been joined at the Board of County Commissioners meetings by passionate and articulate residents that value citizen involvement in local government.  From all of us, thank you, for taking the time during your day to attend and share your thoughts with our elected officials. Both written and public comments are a valuable part of this process and we appreciate all of them.

We will strive to continuously update you on our progress; however, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any member of our team. Thank you, again!

Sincerely,
Washoe County Community Relations Team

For more information, visit the the Washoe County's CIRP page.

Received from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Technology Services,
Office of Information Security - March 15, 2013

It's tax season and criminals are seizing the opportunity for scams. Don't become the next victim.

Scammers leverage every means at their disposal to separate you from your money, your identity, or anything else of value they can get. They may offer seemingly legitimate "tax services" designed to steal your identity and your tax refund, sometimes with the lure of bigger write-offs or refunds. Scams may include mocked up websites and tax forms that look like they belong to the IRS to trick you into providing your personal information.

Scam artists can prey on users by promising refunds that are fraudulent, a scam the IRS says has been rampant in previous years. In these scams, notices are posted on bulletin boards, in libraries, and at other community sites where people visit either in person or online. Scammers make money from this trick in two ways: first, they collect a fee for helping to "file" for a refund on behalf of their victims, and then they steal the victim's identity for further exploitation. The victims are left paying a fee for a fraudulent service, not getting a refund they thought they would, and are potentially in a position to face charges for failing to file a return or for committing fraudulent reporting.

How to Recognize an Email Tax Scam

According to the IRS, below are the key ways to recognize an email tax scam. The email:

• requests personal and/or financial information, or security-related information either in the email itself or on another site to which a link in the email directs you;
• includes exciting offers to get you to respond, such as mentioning a tax refund or offering to pay you to participate in an IRS survey;
• threatens a consequence for not responding to the email, such as additional taxes or blocking access to your funds;
• has incorrect spelling for the Internal Revenue Service or other federal agencies;
• uses incorrect grammar or odd phrasing;
• discusses "changes to tax laws" that include a downloadable document (usually in PDF format) that purports to explain the new tax laws (these downloads are populated with malware that, once downloaded, may infect your computer).

How To Avoid Becoming A Victim

To stay safer this tax season, follow these five steps:

1. Secure your computer. If your computer does not have proper security controls, it is vulnerable to access by criminals, who may be able to steal information stored on it. Make sure your computer has the latest security updates installed. Check that your anti-virus and anti-spyware software are running properly and are receiving automatic updates from the vendor. If you haven't already done so, install and enable a firewall.
2. Carefully select the sites you visit. Safely searching for tax forms, advice on deductibles, tax preparers, and other similar topics requires caution. Know the site. Know the company. Do not visit a site by clicking on a link sent in an email, found on someone's blog, or on an advertisement. The website you land on may look just like the real site, but it may be a well-crafted fake.
3. Don't fall prey to email, web, or social networking scams. Common scams tout tax rebates, offer great deals on tax preparation or offer a free tax calculator tool. If you did not solicit the information, it's likely a scam. If the email claims to be from the IRS, it's a scam – the IRS will not contact you via email, text messaging or your social network, nor does it advertise on websites. If the email appears to be from your employer, bank, broker, etc. claiming there is an issue with what they reported for you and you need to verify some information, it might be a scam. Do not respond to the email. Contact the entity directly before responding.
4. Never send sensitive information in an email. It may be intercepted and read by criminals.
5. Use strong passwords. Cyber criminals have developed programs that automate the ability to guess your passwords. To protect yourself, passwords must be difficult for others to guess, but at the same time, easy for you to remember. Passwords should have a minimum of nine characters and include upper case (capital letters), lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Make sure your work passwords are different from your personal passwords.

For More Information:

For additional information about tax related scams and identity theft, please visit:
(links open in a new window)

• Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft: www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Guide-to-Identity-Theft
• Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts: www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts
• IRS Releases the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012: www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Releases-the-Dirty-Dozen-Tax-Scams-for-2012
• What's Hot – IRS: www.irs.gov/uac/What's-Hot
• Report Phishing: www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing

Reno Fire Department wants residents to keep warm safely

As the colder months approach the Reno Fire Department wants residents to keep warm safely. By following these safety tips, residents can reduce their chances of becoming a fire casualty:

• Alternative heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least 3 feet away.
  
  
• Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon build up. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut off in case the heater is tipped over.
  
  
• Use a generator or other fuel-powered machines outside the home. Carbon Monoxide fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors.
  
  
• Use appropriate sized and type power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires.
  
  
• Do not use the kitchen oven range to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes. 
  
  
• Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning fuel can produce deadly fumes.
  
  
• Have a chimney professionally inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used in some time.
  
  
• Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper can help rekindle the fire, forcing toxic carbon monoxide into the house.
  
  
• Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the house.
  
  
• Be sure every level of your home has a working smoke alarm. Smoke alarms may be dependent on your homes’ electrical service and could be inoperative during a power outage. Check to see if your smoke alarm uses a back-up battery and install a new battery at least once a year. All smoke alarms should be tested monthly.

“During this time of the year, we see residents searching for alternative sources of home heating,” advises Interim Reno Fire Marshal Dave Cochran. “We want the community to keep warm safely and maintain a fire-safe home this winter. Many fires during the colder months can be prevented.”

For more winter home safety tips visit www.usfa.fema.gov. If you have questions on home fire safety contact the Reno Fire Department’s Division of Fire Prevention at 334-2300.

Fireplace Safety - With 2 fires in Washoe Valley in the past year caused by improper disposing of ashes, the TRUCKEE MEADOWS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT wants everyone to know the proper and safe way to dispose of ashes. Click to see their instructions...

 

We received the following article from WCSO, Deputy Teresa Aquila (10/15/2012):

Simulated Bath Salts That May be the "New High"

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public about a new way to get high that is perfectly legal, readily available, and can be extremely dangerous if consumed. This new high is sold under the guise of exotic, concentrated bath salts. “These are not your everyday ‘soak in the tub’ brands of bath salts,” said Diane Machen, a Criminalist with the Sheriff’s Forensic Science Division. “These are highly concentrated substances packaged as bath salts that may contain mephedrone and the compound MDPV.”

Machen said these types of chemicals are intentionally marketed toward teenagers because pushers try to convince youth that they can get high without really doing anything wrong since the substances aren’t illegal. “Parents and children need to remember that just because something is legal and easily available for purchase, doesn’t mean it can’t be extremely harmful,” she said. “The reality is, using these chemicals may lead to serious consequences such as hallucinations and paranoia, creating a situation where the user may inflict serious harm to themselves and others.” Fake bath salts are becoming a growing drug problem in several eastern states. Authorities in states such as Mississippi and Kentucky are already looking at banning their sale.

What to Watch For:
Fake bath salts are not typically found at the standard bath and body store but are available over the counter at
convenience stores, head shops and over the internet. The substance is usually sold in small containers with exotic names like Tranquility, Red Dove, Ivory Snow or Vanilla Sky. Small amounts of the powder are extremely expensive to buy. For example, a 500 mg bottle sells for almost 30 dollars. Machen encourages parents to stay ahead of the curve by educating themselves about the latest trends in substance abuse, particularly for substances that are not illegal, many of which were not even heard of a decade or so ago. “For this type of product parents need to be proactive,” she said. “Many of these new ways to get high were not even heard of a decade or so ago. Our children are vulnerable if they don’t understand the long-term damage they can cause.” Know what to look for and talk to your children. Make sure they are cautious about what they’re consuming and where it’s coming from. Pay attention to news reports and research the internet for additional information about designer and synthetic drugs.

On March 9, 2012, we received the following press release from the Washoe County Sheriff along with a note from Deputy Teresa Aquila, "This is very unfortunate. That team was doing an outstanding job. Please continue to report these incidents so that they can be logged. Stay safe!:

Board Budget Cuts Force Sheriff to Eliminate Graffiti Investigations

Reno, Nevada. Washoe County Sheriff Michael Haley announced today that he has been forced to immediately eliminate graffiti investigations conducted by his Office due to budget cuts instigated by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners.
"This action is counterintuitive to the philosophy of my Office and staff and was made only after careful analysis of the impact of the Board's reductions on our operations," Sheriff Haley said.
To help meet the latest reductions, a Sheriff's Support Specialist who had been dedicated full-time to documenting graffiti incidents and violators will be reassigned. In addition, a Deputy Sheriff who was dedicated to full-time investigation and enforcement of graffiti reports will also be reassigned to the Patrol Division.
Sheriff Haley said that current graffiti abatement efforts using inmate and community service work crews would continue. However, the Sheriff expressed concern that graffiti would increase across the region.
"When funding was available for enforcement, education and abatement, graffiti decreased, Sheriff Haley said. "But when funding ceases, the offending vandals will claim victory because we are no longer able to investigate, educate or abate graffiti vandalism in Washoe County.
"This is an extremely difficult decision to make after seeing the improvement in our region, but I was given no choice under the Board's current budget mandate."

Residents with concerns are encouraged to contact their County Commissioner or the Washoe County Manager's Office.

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The Washoe County Sheriff's office includes a Graffiti Task Force. Its mission is:

Improve our community by eradicating graffiti through citizen empowerment, awareness and targets enforcement.

The Task Force goals include:

 

 

Private Property Abatement 4 Step Process:

Graffiti on private property can be removed by the Graffiti Task Force at no cost. Follow these steps to request graffiti abatement on your property. Please take photos of the graffiti and include with your report.

1. File a report with the WCSO. You can use the electronic form on the WCSO website. Start the form by selecting 'Graffiti' as the Incident Type and then click, 'Start Report' at the bottom of the form. Include in your report if you are the property owner and have signed a waiver for removal.
2. File a Graffiti Removal Request Form and fill in the requested information before submitting the form.
3. Complete a Graffiti Service Request Form & Waiver (pdf), print out the form, fill out the requested information, sign it and fax to (775) 328-3361.
4. Complete a Washoe County Sheriff's Office Statement (pdf), print out the form, fill out the applicable information, sign it and fax to (775) 328-3361 ATTN: Katie Stueve. THIS FORM APPLIES ONLY TO ADDRESSES IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF WASHOE COUNTY.

Please note their is no "color-match" guarantee; only graffiti will be abated. Depending on the type of surface, power-washing is available with the water source provided by the property owner. There are 4 paint colors available: Dark Brown, Tan, Light Gray and Dark Gray. The Task Force can not abate: natural wood surfaces (sometimes will be power-washed), some painted/stained fences and natural rock walls, most pastel colored surfaces, any graffiti on US-395 or I-80 (contact NDOT), graffiti that cannot be seen from the street, trees, glass and apartment complexes, new construction or property under development and areas on the 2nd floor or above.

Graffiti - It's a Crime

There has been a noticeable increase in graffiti throughout Washoe County. The Reno Direct Graffiti hotline receives an average of 450 calls per month to clean up “tagging” around the City of Reno and Washoe County Jurisdiction.

Property owners should have graffiti removed within 24 hours of its appearance. This prevents the offender from receiving the “fame” and “recognition” desired when other taggers see their “tag”. This reduces the likelihood that the tagging will spread. Graffiti, like other forms of vandalism, is a crime. If you see graffiti in progress, report it to the police immediately.
Since February 2006, the Graffiti Task Force (GTF) has removed over 3,500 incidences of graffiti within the city of Reno and Washoe County jurisdictions. The GTF currently consists of three abatement vehicles working an average of 7 days a week for up to 8 hours a day. A Washoe County Work Crew Supervisor oversees the operation of one of the abatement vehicles with a crew of 3 inmates.

The other two abatement vehicles are one man abatement vehicles which are staffed by City of Reno Graffiti Abatement Technicians. These abatement vehicles have the capability of water blasting and sand blasting graffiti from various types of materials.

There are two common types of graffiti:

1. Tagging: Individuals involved in this type of graffiti refer to themselves as “taggers” or graffiti writers. They attempt to gain status through painting their “tags” in as many places as possible. In addition, they may paint “pieces” which are highly stylized murals. This type is usually illegible to the untrained eye and intended to be seen only by other “taggers”.
2. Gang: This type of graffiti is mostly done by gang members or gang associates. This form of graffiti is a method of communication. It is used to promote a gang, mark territory, recruit members and/or intimidate a neighborhood.

Graffiti sends the message that the area is unsafe and can cause concern for the personal safety of members of the community. Also, it invites more littering, loitering, and even more graffiti. It may also lead to an increase in other crimes and acts of violence. Property sales slow and property values decline due to the fact that many areas filled with graffiti are simply unappealing.

Graffiti is an act of vandalism that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to either remove or cover each year. Every dollar spent on graffiti removal is a dollar that could be spent on other community programs.

For more information, contact the Regional Graffiti Task Force at (775) 334-2099, Deputy Robert Cook (775 325-6466), or Sheriff Support Specialist Katie Stueve (775 328-3361), or visit the WCSO Graffiti website.

 

Precription Drug Round Up

Periodically, local Law Enforceent Agencies in collaboration with the DEA as well as Join Together Northern Nevada (JTNV) sponsor prescription drug round up events in Washoe County. While we will continue to post these in the Hot Topics on the home page, we wanted you to know you can always drop-off your unneeded precription drugs at: (during normal business hours)

- Reno Police Department – 455 E. 2nd Street, Reno
- Sparks Police Department – 1701 East Prater Way, Sparks
- Washoe County Sheriff's Office – 911 Parr Blvd., Reno
- University of Nevada Reno Police Department – 1664 N. Virginia Street, Bldg. 82, Reno

Since the area's first event in the fall of 2009, the Round Ups in Washoe County have collected over 2 million prescription pills. Nearly 300,000 of those pills were in categories that are commonly diverted and abused, such as painkillers, depressants and stimulants.

An interesting article from WCSO, Deputy Teresa Aquila (originally posted on July 25, 2012):

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Managing Your Digital Footprint: Think Before You Post

If you’re not familiar with the phrase “digital footprint”, it’s important that you become aware of what it is and how it impacts you. Digital footprint refers to the compilation of content on the Internet that can be associated with you and, thus, potentially available by anyone performing a search on you. The list of possible content visible online is endless: your family videos on YouTube, your comments on a news article or blog, vacation photos on Flickr, your posts on Facebook and Twitter.

Why should you be concerned about the information available online about you? While these pieces of information may seem innocuous on an individual basis, when pieced together they create a composite profile that could be used by cyber criminals. The more information out there, the more information that is accessible for social engineering and ID theft scams. Additionally, this content may be accessed at some point by an outside source doing an assessment of you, whether it be for college admissions or a new job.

With so much of your information in so many places online, can you do anything to manage your digital footprint?  Yes.  By reviewing the tips below, you can help minimize your online exposure and possibly reduce the risk of identity theft.   Keep in mind, once information is posted on the Internet, sometimes it may be impossible to remove it.

Map Your Footprint
Before you can start reducing and cleaning your digital footprint, you should know what it currently looks like. Make a list of all the social networking sites that you've signed up for, any websites where you've had an account in the past, and all the usernames or aliases you have used on the web.

Using your name, other personal details, and the information from your list, do a few searches on multiple search engines and you'll get a good idea of how big or small your digital footprint is.

Take Control of Your Privacy
Once your footprint is mapped, you can start to clean it up.  Perhaps you found a few social networking posts that were available to the public, or maybe a few photos that you would rather not have everyone see. Most social networking sites have varying levels of privacy controls, so you can change a few settings and restrict access.  Think before you post.

Manage Your Interactions with Others
Don’t forget others may be able to see whom you are associated with. Be careful about how you interact with others online. Be selective about which venues you participate in. If you regularly contribute to blogs or message boards, consider how your statements might be interpreted by others.  Be cautious about referencing your place of employment or your job function as this might be used for social engineering and other scams.

Use Caution on Social Media and Networking Websites
Use privacy controls available to limit and control access to your information. Do not post any inappropriate photos, comments, status updates or other content.  Think before you post.

Recommendations

• Clean up your footprint.  Remove any photos, content and links that are inappropriate or reveal too much information.
• Be selective about who you authorize to access your information.
• Monitor comments made by others.
• Consider using the “block comments” feature or setting your social networking profile to “private” so only designated friends can view it.
• Think before you post.

For More Information:
MaximumPC: How To Erase Your Digital Footprint:
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/how_erase_your_digital_footprint

Washington Post: Beware of Privacy Policies:  Time to Clean Up Your Digital Footprint:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/beware-of-privacy-policies-time-to-hide-your-digital-footprint/2012/01/31/gIQADI7PnQ_story.html