FILE NUMBER........

Whereas, The Truckee Meadows Law Enforcement Chaplaincy

Program is a nonprofit corporation supported by private donations that is

dedicated to providing assistance to local law enforcement agencies and the

residents of Nevada with various tasks, including, responding to

emergencies, counseling, pastoral services and other means of support; and

Whereas, Before being certified as a member of the program, local

chaplains and ministers must complete a comprehensive 140-hour training

program at a Law Enforcement Chaplain Academy that provides training

related to law enforcement as well as training in chaplain ministry skills

including critical incident stress, death notifications, post-trauma syndrome

and officer burn-out; and

Whereas, Since the inaugural class of the first Law Enforcement

Chaplain Academy in Nevada graduated in 1996, the members of the

Truckee Meadows Law Enforcement Chaplaincy have provided thousands

of hours of service to local law enforcement agencies and to the residents of

Nevada; and

Whereas, During the flood of 1997, the Truckee Meadows Law

Enforcement Chaplaincy provided over 310 hours of invaluable service by

assisting law enforcement officers in emergency response and by providing

food, shelter and counseling for flood victims; and

Whereas, At the Sierra Chemical plant explosion in January 1998, the

Truckee Meadows Law Enforcement Chaplaincy were the first emergency

response service on the scene, immediately assessing the need for law

enforcement personnel, fire service personnel and emergency medical

service, and in addition provided 7 days and more than 200 hours of

assistance by providing food, shelter and counseling to families and victims

of the tragedy; and

Whereas, The Truckee Meadows Law Enforcement Chaplaincy also

provided emergency response services in other times of crisis in the

Truckee Meadows, such as the plane crash at Pine Middle School, the

propane truck explosion in the vicinity of McCarran Boulevard and

Mayberry Street, the gasoline tanker accident at McCarran Boulevard and

Pembroke Street, and at the tour bus accident on Interstate Highway No.

80; and

Whereas, In addition to emergency response services, the Truckee

Meadows Law Enforcement Chaplaincy provides extensive nonemergency

services, such as funerals, weddings of law enforcement personnel, and

counseling of law enforcement personnel and civilians.

Whereas, In 1998 the 12-member staff of the Truckee Meadows Law

Enforcement Chaplaincy invested over 5,400 hours of total service to law

enforcement agencies and the residents of Nevada; and

Whereas, In its short existence, the Truckee Meadows Law

Enforcement Chaplaincy has become an invaluable service and integral part

of the community in the Truckee Meadows area; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly

Concurring, That the members of the 70th Session of the Nevada

Legislature do hereby commend the Truckee Meadows Law Enforcement

Chaplaincy for its extensive service and dedication to law enforcement

agencies and to the community at large in the Truckee Meadows area; and

be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy

of this resolution to the Senior Chaplain of the Truckee Meadows Law

Enforcement Chaplaincy, Chaplain Tim O’Shea.

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