Area Briefing, March 12-18, 2015

FREEDOM HOUSE AIMS TO RAISE $600,000 TO MATCH PLEDGED FUNDS

Freedom House recently announced a campaign to raise $600,000 by May 1 to expand its services.

The nonprofit, 3852 Palos Verdes St., provides a structured transition from homelessness for individuals with substance abuse issues, offering housing, food assistance and recovery support services. The group is seeking to match a $600,000 pledge by the Engelstad Family Foundation.

A goal of the fundraising campaign is to provide scholarships for residents in Freedom House’s transitional programs. Another goal is to fund the organization’s food program. Also, the group aims to create the Freedom House for Veterans to offer a residential drug and alcohol treatment program for veterans.

For more information, visit freedomhousesoberliving.com.

FREE SHREDDING EVENTS PLANNED

Residents can have their documents shredded free and get rid of prescription drugs for safe disposal during a Ward 2 Shredding Party and Drug Turn-In planned from 10 a.m. to noon March 21 at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive. For more information, call 702-229-1100.

Also, a free Ward 4 Shredding Party is planned from 10 a.m. to noon March 28 at the Mountain Shadows Community Center, 9107 Del Webb Blvd. For more information, call 702-229-6405.

The limit is five boxes of documents per customer at the events.

POLICE OFFICERS TO BE HONORED AT AWARDS EVENT

The Friends of the Metropolitan Police Department Foundation’s third annual Sheriff Salutes the Best of the Badge is scheduled July 10 at Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.

A cocktail hour and silent auction is set from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by an awards dinner slated from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The event allows Metro to honor officers for distinguished service.

For more information, visit lvmpdfoundation.org or call 702-539-5741.

NEW EXECUTIVE JOINS LAS VEGAS RECOVERY CENTER

The Las Vegas Recovery Center recently welcomed John Seeland as its chief operating officer.

Seeland has held several positions at Martin Health System in Florida, which includes three hospitals, several imaging centers, physical rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities and a physician group. Most recently, he was finance director at the company.

Seeland also has worked as a therapist, a patient accounts manager and a regional recovery program coordinator.

The Las Vegas Recovery Center offers treatment for addictions and chronic pain.

For more information, call 702-515-1374 or visit lasvegasrecoverycenter.com.

SCAMMERS USE POLICE DEPARTMENT CALLER ID NUMBERS

Scammers are calling valley residents attempting to collect money for legal troubles, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Police said they have received numerous reports of the scam. When the victims do not pay, the callers threaten to have a warrant issued for their arrest.

The phone calls are made from a number that belongs to the department’s South Central Area Command, 4860 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The suspects have the technology to place a call from an outside number, which displays as a Metro phone number on the caller ID, police said.

Anyone with information on the scam is urged to contact the department’s financial crimes bureau at 702-828-3285. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Nevada at 702-385-5555 or crimestoppersofnv.com. Tips leading directly to an arrest or indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.

SPECIAL PATROLS IN HENDERSON TO ENFORCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

The Henderson Police Department plans special patrols through March 12, targeting motorists who are not paying attention to pedestrians and pedestrians not crossing streets safely or legally.

The state-funded Joining Forces patrols are in response to an increase in pedestrian deaths on Southern Nevada roadways, the department said.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/police/home.

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM SAFETY CONFERENCE PLANNED

The 22nd International Tourism Safety Conference is scheduled for April 26-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road.

The event is for safety and security officials in the travel and tourism industries and focuses on providing new information, trends, equipment, strategies and best practices for keeping visitors safe.

Guest speakers from Clark County and around the globe are set to offer presentations addressing the state of tourism security, global terrorism, human trafficking, workplace violence, pandemic health issues, nightclub security, community policing and more. A Tourism Oriented Policing and Protective Services certification course also is slated to be offered.

The conference’s hosts are the International Tourism Safety Association, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association.

For more information or to register for the event, visit touristsafety.org.

BOOTH TO OFFER INFORMATION ON DEALING WITH DISASTERS

An information booth dealing with disaster preparedness is scheduled to be at several locations in the next few months.

The city of Henderson Office of Emergency Management plans to man the booth from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 18 and April 16 at the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road; from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19 at the Henderson Events Plaza farmers market, 200 S. Water St.; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20 at the Henderson Pavilion farmers market, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway.

The booth is set to include information on preparing an emergency supply kit, developing a disaster-response plan and staying informed.

For more details, visit tinyurl.com/hendersonemergency or call 702-267-2272.

HOMELESS LIAISON PRESENTATION PLANNED AT MARCH SAFETY FORUM

Free safety forums on various topics are planned monthly at the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., through a partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Forums are fron 1-2 p.m. March 21, homeless liaison presentation; April 18, narcotics; May 16, robbery; June 20, traffic awareness; July 18, gang awareness; Aug. 15, district attorney court procedures; Sept. 19, K-9 operations; Oct. 17, missing persons; Nov. 21, Metro Volunteer Program; and Dec. 19, emergency preparedness.

The presentations are also scheduled to be live-streamed at themobmuseum.org.

For more information, call 702-229-2734.