LVMPD FOUNDATION
HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE Hidden Heroes: Governor Praises Law Enforcement and Supporters | Law Enforcement Appreciation Day | Go True Blue
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20 YEARS SUPPORTING LVMPD'S PROTECTION OF LAS VEGAS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
04 Reality Based Training Center
K-9 Section and Communications 12 LVMPD Bureau celebrated by 300 at Hidden
Beck & Igor Soldo 06 Alyn Memorial Scholarship
our Wonder Women of 14 Celebrate Metro, Online Sip & Salute in April
Enforcement Appreciation 08 Law Day Celebration - The Las
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Volunteer Spotlight
10 LEAD Festival
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Mark your calendar - Sheriff Salutes the Best of the Badge 2020 Gala
Vegas Strip Goes True Blue
Heroes Black & White Gala
LVMPD Foundation is a Tax-Exempt, non-profit organization. Your contribution may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of section 170 (c) of the Internal Revenue Service code of 1986, 26 U.S.C 170(c).
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Our Safety is a Basic Human Need. I hope that this newsletter finds you and yours safe and healthy. As the COVID-19 crisis continues to keep most of us at home, we decided to launch a new format of our newsletter – one that provides the opportunity to share much more news about our impact supporting LVMPD and the safety of our community. We hope that you enjoy the expanded content. I welcome your feedback about our new approach and how we could keep you best informed about our work. Like many other communities around the nation, Southern Nevada is facing hardship and the LVMPD Foundation, through this newsletter and beyond, extends our appreciation to the incredible men and women of LVMPD and their tireless work to keep us safe. We know that they do not have the option of working remotely and that they face the same challenges as everyone else with implementing social distancing and working through child-care options and other daily life issues – all while continuing to serve. The LVMPD Foundation has been heartened by the many messages of gratitude and videos of support that we are receiving daily from the community – all expressing appreciation to the brave men and women of Metro and their constant efforts to ensure our region’s safety. We thank our hard-working officers who are protecting us during this trying time when we are reminded that our personal safety is a basic human need. Thank you for your continued support of the LVMPD Foundation. Because of you, we started the year off very strong raising over $5 Million in the first three months of 2020. Together, we make a difference. Please keep healthy, Tom Kovach Executive Director
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LVMPD Foundation Nears $25 Million Goal for Phase One of New Reality Based Training Center The events of 1 October and other mass casualty incidents around the world have been and should be a wakeup call for emergency responders everywhere. We must constantly strive to be a step ahead of those who wish to do harm in our communities. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department realized the pressing need for crossjurisdictional training locally. In response, the LVMPD Foundation has been leading a $25 million fundraising campaign for phase one of a world-class Reality Based Training Center, which will provide local, state and national law enforcement and first responders with life-saving training, which is essential for the safety of our officers, our public, and our visitors. The first phase consists of two adjacent buildings; combined they will house over 125,000 square
feet of the most modern and dedicated training resources. One of the buildings will contain a climate controlled tactical training village including casino simulations and other incidents.
This facility is the largest and most comprehensive project of this type in the nation. It will be a lasting and standing testament to Vegas Strong.
“As the sheriff and head of a law enforcement agency, one of my top priorities is officer safety and wellbeing – that’s directly related to or correlated to training. The intent is for us to get better, we need the appropriate facilities to present to our officers. This is a vision that needs to take place now versus five, six or seven years from now because our officers are being presented with this situation now.” - Sheriff Joseph Lombardo
Please consider supporting our fundraising campaign to make a new Reality Based Training Center in Southern Nevada a reality. The first phase is being funded through private dollars and your contribution to the Foundation shows your dedication to a safer community. Donations can be made online at lvmpdfoundation.org/reality-based-training or contact Tom Kovach at tkovach@donorbasis.com
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Las Vegas Community Thanks Officers for Ensuring Personal Safety During this trying time of hardship across the nation and in Southern Nevada, the LVMPD Foundation has been heartened by the outpouring support of the community toward LVMPD officers. The Foundation has received many videos and written messages of gratitude from the community to the brave men and women of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Public safety is a basic human need that our community is relying on. Join us and send a message of encouragement to our hard-working officers during this time when we are reminded that our personal safety is a basic human need. lvmpdfoundation.org/thanks-metro
“To all the LV Metro Police Officers— thank you for risking your lives every day to keep our community safe. Please know that you are greatly appreciated!! Stay safe out there.” - Ming-Eng Liu
“To all Metro employees, Thank you so much for being on the front lines. Many blessings to each and every one of you. I pray for you and your family. A Thank you to my 2 Grandsons. All of you stay safe and healthy.” - Susan Brager, former Clark County Commissioner
“On behalf of the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) staff and volunteers, THANK YOU for all you are doing to keep us safe and protected during this time.” - Jill Roberts, Trauma Intervention Program
“Be safe out there and thank you for always protecting us no matter the gravity of the situation. We appreciate you each and every day. From the entire staff and board of directors of the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum.” - Jodi Gutstein, Staff and Board of Directors, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum
“Sheriff and Men and Women of the Metropolitan Police Department, Stay healthy and keep up the great work! We need you more than ever.” - Virginia Valentine
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A Total of $300,000 in Scholarships Have Been Donated In Memory of Fallen Officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo
For the sixth year, and funded through the generosity of Ron Coury and Don Tamburro, the LVMPD Foundation will award ten scholarships of $5,000 each to the children of Commissioned Police and Corrections Officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 2020. The $50,000 in scholarships have been donated by Mr. Coury and Mr. Tamburro, in memory of fallen officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo and in gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice as well as for the daily efforts of all LVMPD officers to protect and serve our community. The Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo Memorial Scholarship Fund offers scholarships to qualifying college or vocational school-bound children of the LVMPD family. Scholarship funds can be applied to offset the costs of the students’ tuition, fees, and books related to their college or vocational education. The Foundation is accepting applications until April 15, 2020. Apply Now!
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RICHARD GOLGART SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
SIERRA HARDING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
“The scholarship was formed and funded as a lasting gesture of appreciation and to honor
officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo for years to come, providing higher education assistance to children of officers.” - Ron Coury, LVMPD Foundation Board Member
“This scholarship reminds us of all of the fallen officers and especially in this case, officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo.”
- Sierra Harding, 2019 Scholarship Recipient
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The iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign and Las Vegas Strip shined bright with gratitude for our LVMPD heroes in celebration of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. #OnlyVegas celebrates their law enforcement heroes day and night with over 12 million people watching! Thank you to the participating properties, local businesses and organizations, Las Vegas City Council, and Clark County Commission.
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LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY FESTIVAL BRINGS COMMUNITY AND LVMPD TOGETHER In January, Sheriff Joe Lombardo was joined by officers and their families, along with U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto, Congresswoman Susie Lee and various other state and city officials; along with hundreds of community members to celebrate for the sixth year, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day “LEAD” at Police Memorial Park. In addition to celebrating the brave men and women of LVMPD and law enforcement around the valley, LEAD provided the community an opportunity to meet the men and women behind the badge. Event highlights included demonstrations and displays from LVMPD Mounted Police Unit, K-9 Section, and Special Weapons and Tactics SWAT units.This free and familyfriendly event also featured face painters, balloon artists, and food trucks! LVMPD FOUNDATION HIGHLIGHTS I VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
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“Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is the day we say, God Bless you and thank you. We know you put your life on the line every single day you get out of bed for us.” - Mayor Carolyn Goodman
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SHINING A LIGHT ON THE V Over 300 supporters came together to honor both the LVMPD K-9 Section and the Communications Bureau at the 3rd Annual Hidden Heroes Black & White Gala. The K-9 Section and the Communications Bureau work tirelessly every day to protect and support the needs of our community. Thank you for shining a light on these Hidden Heroes. Those in attendance included Governor Sisolak and First Lady of Nevada, Kathy Sisolak, who shared their gratitude to the honorees and their families. Together, with the generous support of our gala sponsors, Nami Oneda and The Gratitude “The Hidden Heroes Black & White Gala is an outstanding platform to recognize law enforcement who we often don’t hear about, but who nonetheless play an integral role in the organization day-in and day-out. Their commitment to the Las Vegas community and LVMPD is remarkable, and their efforts deserve to be recognized.” - Tom Kovach, Executive Director of LVMPD Foundation
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VALLEY’S HIDDEN HEROES
“Being in the room felt very important to me. You never know when you may need help and recognizing the teams there felt like the least we could do. And we all had so much fun just saying Thank you!” - Matthew Frazier, John C. Kish Foundation
Project and those in attendance at the LVMPD Foundation’s gala, we raised over $160,000 to support the LVMPD Foundation’s continued investment in public safety. You could hear the whistles and cheering from the ballroom hallway as Tom Kovach, Executive Director of the LVMPD Foundation, asked the room to show some love for the many 911 call takers who could not attend the gala to receive their honor, because they were committed to serving our community, and answering every 911 call day and night. It was an emotional moment and an emotional night.
“I can only imagine the look that my dog would give me if he were hurt or near death. We really do become one, it’s a partnership. And every call that I go on, I am focused on keeping my human partners safe but also tending to my dog because he looks at me to solve problems...to save him, because he would save me.“ - Sgt. Matthew Harris, K-9 Section “We take millions of calls per year, and our call takers answer them back to back to back. They don’t know what their next call will be. They might get a domestic violence type of call to the report of loud music at a neighbor’s house, then on to a report of a missing child. They get little to no time to process what just happened and decompress before they are moving on to the next call. But every day they show up, put their headsets on and are ready for anything that comes their way” - Christie Cullum, LVMPD Comm. Mgr.
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ONLINE SIP & SALUTE
Even though we have had to postpone the inperson Wonder Women of Metro Luncheon, during this time of crisis, we must stay connected and communicative about our public safety and those who are consistently taking risks to ensure that we have public safety, which is a basic human need. Given the increased demands on the Police Department during this crisis, we must also raise critical funds to meet the unforeseen needs of the Department due to COVID-19. With these needs in mind and in response to social distancing, the LVMPD Foundation moved quickly to create Online Sip & Salute events that are virtual social gatherings. Launching the week of April 27th, these gatherings provide an opportunity for our sponsors and their guests to connect with the LVMPD Foundation and the Wonder Women of Metro who continue to serve our community throughout this crisis and would welcome the opportunity to network with you.
“I’ve always been in awe of women who have the strength and fortitude to put themselves out there, facing the challenges, whatever the challenge, in whatever field they’re in, for a cause they are passionate about or for the greater good of our community and for our world. For me, the Wonder Women of Metro represent the ultimate example of what it truly means to put yourself ‘out there’ as they put their lives on the line helping to keep our community and our families safe each and every day. And in times of crisis, knowing these women are ‘out there’ should help us all sleep a little better each night. They deserve our respect, our support, are gratitude and our love.” - Robin Greenspun
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WONDER WOMEN OF METRO 4TH ANNUAL LUNCHEON The Wonder Women of Metro Luncheon celebrates and recognizes the Women of Metro for their dedication to public safety and our community. Started in August 2017, the luncheon benefits the LVMPD Foundation and is a reminder to appreciate the Wonder Women in our lives who work to keep us safe. We have had the honor of featuring trailblazing women in our community at this Luncheon as keynote speakers including Diana Bennett, Kris Engelstad McGarry, and Robin Greenspun. Robin Greenspun will present a special introduction at this year’s Luncheon. In addition to raising important funds for the LVMPD Foundation, this public awareness initiative pushed the needle forward as we continue our work to strengthen the relationships between LVMPD and the community. By recognizing and highlighting the women in the department and the importance that diverse perspectives bring to our community, we become stronger and safer.
“This gathering of women is very important to me. It’s empowering and truly fuels me to continue to be an example for other women who are working hard to join our department and continue to excel. I wasn’t always as confident as I am now. I know for sure that the community of women at LVMPD supporting each other has a great deal to do with that growth. I continue to be humbled by this luncheon and look forward to it every year!” - Captain Jamie Prosser, Northeast Area Command
“This really is a time where women are able to speak up, we’re intelligent, we’re powerful, we know what we’re doing, this truly is our time to be equal in our communities.” - Diana Bennett, CEO of Paragon Gaming and 2017 Wonder Women of Metro Keynote Speaker
Sponsorships Now Available! For more information on how to support our officers during this time, contact Latoya Holman at lholman@lvmpdfoundation.org
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April is National Volunteer Month!
THE POWER OF
A special thank you goes out to all of those who dedicate their personal time to support the LVMPD Foundation’s many events and programs.
Consider joining us as a volunteer. Register at lvmpdfoundation.org “The LVMPD Foundation is such a worthy cause. The Foundation’s team is dedicated to our officers and community. Staff are excellent mentors and always appreciative of my time, and our efforts honor the officers who keep us safe. I look forward to volunteering for each event.” -Marja T. McCune-Guerra, LVMPD Foundation Volunteer
In honor of National Volunteer Month, the Foundation conducted a Q&A with LVMPD Foundation Volunteer, Marja T. McCune-Guerra, to give those interested in volunteering more insight into the experience of an LVMPD Foundation Volunteer. Marja is a driven, skilled and compassionate leader. We thank Marja along with our many volunteers for her service and dedication to law enforcement. What do you do for work? I work as a Sports and Entertainment Coordinator. I have expertise in aviation catering, arena operations and entertainment riders. Why is volunteerism important to you? A volunteer is selfless and has a servant’s heart. Community service is important to me. I enjoy giving back using the tools that I have established during my tenure as an executive chef, event manager, catering manager, and operations manager. LVMPD FOUNDATION HIGHLIGHTS I VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
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VOLUNTEERING
How did you learn about the Foundation? A mutual friend introduced me to the Foundation. They were in the middle of planning a gala. It’s a small staff so after learning about the purpose of the Foundation, I started volunteering whenever I could. What is your favorite event or project with the LVMPD Foundation? 2018 Sheriff Salutes the Best of the Badge was my first event with the Foundation. This event was difficult for me emotionally because hundreds of officers were honored with medals for their service during the 1 October tragedy. Our officers were so brave and did an excellent job that night. For them, it was their job. So I was so happy to see them being recognized and thanked publicly. Seeing them smile on stage and enjoy the evening meant a lot to me. Volunteering at that event was my way of saying thank you to them and to our Sheriff for his leadership. As a 1 October survivor, I will never forget that evening and hold a special place in my heart for all of those who were honored. Your proudest moment as a volunteer? Providing an ENGAGING, DYNAMIC, GUEST EXPERIENCE to our LVMPD heroes! It’s nice to be able to serve them because they are always taking care of me and the community around me.
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SHERIFF TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING OFFICERS The Sheriff Salutes the Best of the Badge Gala recognizes dedicated officers who go above and beyond the call of duty to save lives while risking their own to make a difference in the community. These are officers who represent the “Best of the Badge.” The Gala is the LVMPD Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year. In 2019, over 1,200 business leaders, supporters, local and state politicians, law enforcement honorees and their families attended Sheriff Salutes the Best of the Badge Gala to honor the Department’s outstanding officers. Ceremony Awards presented by Sheriff Joseph Lombardo– Purple Heart: Given to an officer who has sustained serious injury during a hostile action. Medal of Honor: Given to an officer who went above the call of duty, risking their personal safety to protect human life. Medal of Valor: The highest honor bestowed upon an officer, whose conduct went far above the normal call of duty and involved great risk to save human life.
The Sheriff Salutes the Best of the Badge is recognition of those who have shown the ultimate act of heroism for our community.
Preservation of Life Award: This commendation may be awarded to an officer who has distinguished himself by employing exceptional tactics and exercising sound judgement, beyond the normal demands of duty, to preserve the life of another during a volatile or dangerous encounter while protecting the safety and security of the public and fellow officers.
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Funds raised from the gala directly support community safety programs, advanced officer training, and essential crime-fighting equipment and technology. These investments and outreach initiatives make a positive impact every day in Southern Nevada and within the LVMPD family.
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The LVMPD Foundation extends our appreciation to the brave men and women of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and their constant efforts to ensure our region’s safety during this trying time. They have assumed additional exposure to danger in their daily course of protecting us, and have asked for nothing in return. We remain steadfast in our commitment of support.
