Douglas County Sheriff Candidate Ron Pierini: We Maintain One of the Lowest Crime Rates in Nevada

South Tahoe Now sent a questionnaire out to all of the candidates for Douglas County Sheriff. We will be posting them in the order received.

1) What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department?

Like the rest of the country, Nevada is experiencing a slow, but steady recovery to the economic crisis. The biggest challenge facing Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and law enforcement in general, is to continue to serve the public in the most efficient manner possible despite such tough economic times. Even though the budget reductions of Fiscal Year 12-13 caused our staffing levels to be tight, we are still maintaining excellent service levels, a high crime resolution rate, and one of the lowest crime rates in Nevada. So, while there is recovery, it is slow and will take longer than in other areas of the country, we must therefore plan accordingly. We must be ever diligent in the recruitment and retention of good personnel, the prudent purchase of good equipment, and to maximize the return on our technology investments. We have a very experienced and motivated staff and I am confident that we will continue to serve our community well.

2) What are your qualifications for the job as Sheriff?

My most substantial qualification is on the job experience. I have over 40 years of full-time law enforcement experience - 38 of those years specifically with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. I have spent the last 16 years as Sheriff of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The fact that I have been re-elected for the last 3 terms shows that I have proven my abilities to the community.

In addition, I am a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Administration of Criminal Justice. I am a graduate of the UNR Public Management Certificate Program.

I have successfully implemented and administrated several programs within the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. These programs include Supervisor (FTO) Training classes and Reserve Officer Academy that are attended by agencies from all over Nevada. Also included are the School Resource Officer program, Peer Court and Intervention officers program (to deter bullying and intimidation among students), the TRIAD program (to improve the quality of life for seniors), the Child Safety Seat program, D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T, Fighting Chance and Explorer Post programs. I have promoted many technological improvements including a state of the art computer-aided dispatch/records management system complete with in-car computer terminals, Firearm Automated Training System (FATS), Life Scan fingerprint system, sex offender-mapping program, laser radar units, constructing a public/police firearms shooting range, and community portal website.

I am a board member and past president of the Nevada Sheriff's and Chief's Association, a member of the Rural Law Enforcement Technology Council, and have been appointed by the Governor of Nevada to the Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission and am presently Chairman. I have been appointed to the Amber Alert Commission.

I am involved in many community organizations including: Minden-Douglas Elks Lodge, Kiwanis Club of Gardnerville/Carson Valley, board member of Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, board member of the International Footprint Association, an honorary member of the Boys and Girls Club, Austin’s House, and a board member of the CV Chukar Club, and a Ducks Unlimited member. In connection with being a lead instructor of Nevada Department of Wildlife Hunter Safety education, I am also a Board Member of Nevada Operation Game Thief (OGT).

I have been recognized by the community with several awards including: The Citizen of the Year in 1996 by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Citizen of the Year in 1997 by the Minden/Douglas Elk's Lodge. In 1998, I was awarded the Service to Mankind award from the Carson Valley Sertoma Club. Through the Record Courier in 2000, I was voted by the community as the Best Law Enforcement Officer in Douglas County. Also in 2000, the 20-30 Club of Carson Valley voted me Citizen of the Year. I was honored to receive the Governor's Award of Recognition as the Public Servant of the Year in 2007.

3) If you had $500,000 unrestricted funds donated to the department for anything but salaries, what would you spend it on?

I would spend such funds on a patrol boat for Lake Tahoe. In one to two years, our Lake Tahoe Patrol boat will need to be replaced. We are conducting a Request for Information process to gather purchasing details from potential vendors. The average price for a 26’ to 30’ marine patrol boat – fully equipped for duty on Lake Tahoe – will cost about $350,000. The remaining $150,000 would be used to purchase in-car and body-worn cameras along with the data asset management system necessary to operate and maintain this type of camera system.

4) What do you currently see as the biggest threat to the safety of Douglas County residents?

The biggest threat to the safety of Douglas County residents is actually wild-land fires and earthquakes. However, when it comes to law enforcement-related issues, the primary concern of residents is the issue of drugs and the criminal activities associated with the use and sales of narcotics. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is actively involved with the suppression of these crimes and uses uniformed patrol suppression and two narcotics units - DCSET (Douglas County Street Enforcement Team) and Tri-NET (a three-county narcotics task force). It is through our persistent, proactive approach we are able to maintain one of the lowest crime rates – and the highest solvability rates in Nevada. But, returning to the issue of the threat natural disasters pose, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is part of the County Emergency Management mechanism. We work closely with the Fire Department and public utilities. All of my staff has completed FEMA training in the Incident Command System model used nationwide.

5)What sets you apart from the other candidates for Sheriff? What can you bring to the office that they cannot?

What sets me apart from the other candidates is I have an intimate knowledge of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. I have risen through its ranks, worked the various positions, and understand the relationships and personalities. This experiential knowledge that I have obtained in my 38 years with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office -with the last 16 of those years as its Sheriff- is completely unique and just cannot be obtained any other way. I have a deeply vested interest in keeping Douglas County Sheriff’s Office viable and successful.