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THE INFORMANT
May 2008 Page 3
RRCPAAA
Registration is $110 and includes two 615 East Palm Valley Blvd.
lunches and two dinners. Convention hotel Round Rock, TX 78681
is the Wichita Falls Howard Johnson’s with
a special rate of $79 per night. On the Internet at: www.rrcpaaa.org
Arrangements for our members to attend So, put on your creative thinking caps and
patrol briefings will be made in the near plan on joining in the fun! Our bulletin
future. boards have been a wonderful source of
publicity for the group – let’s get some ideas
Stay tuned for more information in The for making them the best bulletin boards
Snitch, The Informant and/or at future around!
meetings.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS
June
StarFlight will give a presentation on their operation.
July
Secret Service Special Agent Don Abbott will be making his annual
presentation on that agency.
August
Drug Enforcement Agent William Snodgrass will discuss that agency’s
functions.
October
The Transportation Security Administration’s Canine Breeding Development
Center will give a presentation on their Puppy Program. This program
selectively breeds, raises, and prepares puppies to be future explosives-
detection dogs within the National Explosives Detection Canine Team
Program. Dogs who graduate from training are assigned to airports and
mass transit systems nationwide.
November
Travis County Medical Examiners Office
THE INFORMANT
May 2008 Page 5
On Saturday, April 5th, the RRPD moved into its new facility at 2701
N. Mays. Alumni members were on hand to assist with unpacking
and settling into the department’s new home.
Don’t worry – we’ve got it Taking extra care with Bobby’s calendar board
under control
THE INFORMANT
May 2008 Page 9
Chris Smith is from Nick Simpson is from Round Rock. Jim (Jimmy Nine Toes) Bell
Monahans, Tx (near He spent 5 years active duty in the is from Vermont. He was a
Amarillo). He served 4 Navy. He was Salutatorian in his full time officer in Berlin, VT
year in the USMC and 2 Police Academy, and President of his and also a deputy sheriff for
years as a Reserve. He Academy Class (#47) at CAPCOG. Washington County, VT.
served his country during Nick chose this profession because Jim’s past includes working
the Iraqi invasion and in “Everyday has something new and for DynCorp Intl as part of a
Fallujah. Chris also worked different.” Nick likes everything personal security detachment
1 year for Kroll associated with the outdoors, running, team member for 3 ½ years.
Government services doing biking, etc. Nick supports the CPAAA Jim enjoys the camaraderie
National Security and believes, “it is extremely important with his fellow officers. He
background investigations. for the citizens to become involved has learned that life can
Chris has learned that we with the Police Department to change in an instant and you
take freedom for granted understand the police functions and to should appreciate all that you
sometimes. He is anxious to become actively involved in solving have and not take it for
begin his job where his problems in the community together granted. (Like having all your
actions will affect people with Law Enforcement personnel.” toes!)
THE INFORMANT
May 2008 Page 12
Kim Rendon is one of our newest TCOs. She has just completed a nine week academy at CAPCOG
which includes 344 hours of training. It was the 1st Basic Telecommunicators Training Academy
given in the state of Texas. Kim currently holds an Associates degree and is working on her BA which
she hopes to complete by 35 or 36 years.
When asked what she liked about being a TCO, Kim (front center, holding her diploma) is a
Kim replied, “We never have the same day twice graduate of the FIRST Telecommunications Class
and I work with a supportive group of people.” I offered by CAPCOG.
have also learned that an emergency to me may
not be one to someone else and vise versa. I am grateful to work for this agency “family.” Everyone
is supportive.”
Although Kim hasn’t been taking calls for very long, she has heard of some silly ones. “There was a
call about a man who came home from a weekend away and thought there was a burglary in progress.
When officers arrived the complainant’s apartment was a bit messed up and they did detain one;
however it was a squirrel.”
Kim’s favorite saying: “Good morning sunshine” and “live one day at a time, because we are not
promised tomorrow.”
When asked to name something we would be surprised to learn about, Kim said, “I did missionary
work in Mexico for ten years at a handicapped orphanage and at a deaf children’s ranch.”
I believed that a stray cat had entered the home and was afraid to come down. The residents and I
stood in the room making small talk while staring at the animal and waiting on my Sgt. I attempted to
move closer to attempt to arouse the furry creature. As I moved closer it lifted its head. I saw the mask
and then I realized that it was a RACOON in this house sitting on the fireplace mantel and playing
possum. The raccoon began to pace back and forth on the mantel. It looked at a curtain rod which was
next to the mantel and seemed to be planning his escape. The residents looked again at me as if I knew
what to do, all the while I was wondering where is my Sgt.
THE INFORMANT
May 2008 Page 14
I took control of the situation and asked the residents to move into an adjoining room away from the
fur ball who appeared to become more agitated. I also moved back away and stood behind a large
recliner when my Sgt arrived on scene with this long pole with a loop on the end. I stood back and said
to myself that this is going to be interesting. The Raccoon, on the other hand, did not look to
enthusiastic about this and appeared to be preparing for battle. Sgt slid the loop tool around the
Raccoon and he went bezerk. I don’t think that I have ever seen anything like that, that close-up
before. I am happy to report that the Raccoon was captured and set free outside of the door and to my
knowledge has not been seen since.
Tim was born in Abilene, and has been in the Austin area since 1969. When
asked what he wanted to be when grew up, his response was simply, I don’t know
yet!”
Our Assistant Chief is proud to be “Part of a very successful team” and listed that
as an accomplishment in Law Enforcement. “I like the whole helping the
community part and protecting those who need it; but the best part of this job is
chasing down the bad guys and putting them in jail.”
What have you learned from being a cop? There are very few really bad people
out there. We have to work very hard to influence those on the edge and lock-up those that don’t want
to follow the rules.
Goal (By Age 30, 40, 50, 60….): 40, 50—get house painted, 60---get house painted
_____________________________________________________________________________
Personal: Tim is single. He has three daughters: Jackie 21, TCO, Megan 18, Going to UNT in
August, and the youngest is Huntyr, 11, who is involved with softball and cheerleading. He enjoys
fishing, especially catching them, and also just hanging out with friends.
Favorite Sayings: “Emergency is a state of mind,” “It’s ours to lose,” “Must be nimble,” &
“Interesting…”
Tim and the CPAAA have a history of working together. We appreciate the support he has shown us
over the years. The good news is that the feeling seems to be mutual as indicated by his statement
following one of our past events, “It is nice to have a group that better understands what we do and
what sacrifices that officers make and what officers have to endure to be public servants
THE INFORMANT
May 2008 Page 15
I worked at the Travis County jail for about 2.5 years. From there I went to DPS and worked for the
Capitol Police for about 2 years. Soon I realized that I needed to get out if I wanted to make an impact
like I envisioned. I came to Round Rock in July of 1995, I have been an FTO, School resource Officer,
SWAT team member and have served on numerous special teams to work on tasks designed to
improve our work place.
My goal has always been to make it better for those I work, and live with. This is my driving factor in
the desire to promote through the organization. I knew that we could be better at what we did and that
we can make the working experience a better one for those that we work for. I think that we should
continually evaluate how we lead and what message we are delivering. We should look for ways to
improve the work environment and improve our efficiency with what we do everyday.
My goal for the future is to continue to develop and grow with my leadership abilities; I desire to
continue to raise the bar not only for myself but to instill the desire in those I work with to want the
same, a high level of performance. I think we have a unique opportunity here at the Police
Department, and we should embrace the challenge and carry it forward and make it all it can be for us.
We as an organization and as people in the organization have a very unique opportunity to build a great
legacy for ourselves and our department. I hope we are all able to see this and we can take advantage
of the potential we have and make it a great legacy to look back upon and say “I am proud I was part
of that”. This is my goal and what I want to be part of. I also know that we cannot accomplish this feat
alone--it will take all of us working together, we can do it. We are a great department and we are
striving for even greater potential as a department and as the Chief has told me numerous times, “it is
ours to loose”.
Take this time and embrace it, make it all it can be, and know that when we are gone we have built
something that will last ages, for many to follow and continue to improve; this is my wish, for all of us,
Willie Richards
I think the CPA has great benefit for continuing to bridge the gaps we have to the people we serve. The
CPA creates a window of opportunity to meet and interact with numerous members of the community.
It is a great asset to the City as a whole.
Favorite Saying: No one will look out for your future like you will, make it what you want it to be.
I love to coach and be involved with Sports, it is relaxing and I like to see kids grow and develop with
something they have a passion about. Kind of like we should be in out daily lives.
Current Members
Benita Kohlmeyer
Bennett Spelce
Chuck Burt
Crista Burzynski
RRCPAAA Contac ts Dalton Pugh
Dana Goggin
Laura McManus, President
laura_mcmanus@rrcpaaa.org Dana Mueller
310-1411 Debbie Bruce-Juhlke
Alumni Uniform Shirts: Diane Ducre
Michael Flicinski, 1st Vice President Diane Gargano
Michael_flicinski@rrcpaaa.org
Our new uniform shirt (red polo Edie Heuss
244-5496
shirt with the logo that is on the Frank Gargano
front page of The Informant) Edie Heuss, 2nd Vice President Gary Brown
can be ordered by contacting edie_heuss@rrcpaaa.org Gary Gillespie
Ronnie Mueller. Cost is $30 per 924-4259 George Joos
shirt, payable upon delivery of Huyau Chen
Dana Mueller, Treasurer Jeff Kohlmeyer
the shirt. Orders are filled by Dana_Mueller@rrcpaaa.org
Jeremy Sheard
EmbroidMe-Plano and are 255-5428
John Guiling
usually delivered within 7 to 10
Diane Gargano, Secretary John Hughes
days of Sgt. Horton emailing Diane_gargano@rrcpaaa.org Judy Anderson
the order. EmbroidMe-Plano 246-8120 Karen Adair-Murphy
rebates 5% of the purchase Kim Gross
price of each shirt back to the Frank Gargano, Sgt.-at-Arms
Larry McManus
RRCPAAA. frank_gargano@rrcpaaa.org
Laura McManus
246-8120
Linda Zamarripa
Please email Ronnie at Stan Simpson, Liaison Mark Northrup
ronnie_mueller@rrcpaaa.org ssimpson@round-rock.tx.us Michael Flicinski
and place your shirt order 218-5520 Michael Johnson
today! Mike Goggin
Sgt. Robert Horton, COP Liaison
rhorton@round-rock.tx.us Morris Noren
218-6658 Nancy Pugh
Pam Flicinski
Ofc. Lloyd Bird, CPA Coordinator Paul Cecil
lbird@round-rock.tx.us Ray Thibodaux
218-5500 Rick Scott
Ronnie Mueller
Sheila Offutt
Steve O’Connor
Tammy Arrington
Tracy Auldridge
Walter Klingemann
Wyatt Bellis
Introducing one of Round Rock’s Finest
Sgt. Jess Eckard
Written by Laura McManus, RRCPAAA
5-4-08
I first met Sgt. Jess Eckard when (then) Officer Eckard was dispatched to my
auto accident. He cited the other driver, and as he drove off I wondered “who
was that man in the cowboy hat?” Sgt. Eckard is from Cody Wyoming and
lived on a dairy farm. He moved around a lot and went to high school in the
one horse town of Prospect Valley, Colorado playing sports including football, basketball, baseball,
and track. He is the second oldest of six kids.
Sgt. Eckard’s uncle worked at the Wyoming State Penitentiary which sparked his
interest in becoming a police officer. He served in the Army Infantry Division
stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso from 1975-1979. He joined El Paso PD in 1980 and
worked in the Motors Unit and was a senior patrolman with the Special Traffic
Investigations section. He shared that the fastest he has driven was 141mph in
pursuit driving an EPPD police mustang. He joined RRPD in 2000 after a recruiting
visit from Lt. Ken Evans prompted him to move to Round Rock to be closer to family.
Sgt. Eckard has a combined family of four children and several grandchildren. His favorite foods
are steak and potatoes, tiramisu, bread pudding, and rocky road ice cream. You will hardly ever
see him eating these foods though, because he is very health conscious and recently finished his
first MS 150 bicycle race! (Honestly, how awesome is that!)
His favorite team is the Denver Broncos, but you might be surprised to learn that he is superstitious
and to help them win, he always wears their home or away jersey when they play (always).
While in El Paso, Sgt. Eckard was a member of the Paso del Norte Pistoleros who perform gunfight
reenactments from the railroad era of 1870-1905 using rimfire .45’s. In 1998 he won second place
for his portrayal of a gunfighter.
Sgt. Eckard stated that the best thing about being a cop is helping people. “I feel I help both the
victims and the criminals. But the best thing about my job is seeing my staff succeed. I get more
joy out of seeing them succeed then myself.” He is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in
Organizational Leadership and then plans to get his masters degree. He would like to next
become a Lt. at RRPD and eventually teach college level courses. “I love to teach and I am
always learning - I am a lifetime student.”
You may not know all of the challenges that Sgt. Eckard has faced, because he doesn’t focus on
that. He only goes forward with a positive attitude. He has high expectations of others, but they
are nothing less than he expects from himself. He is an excellent representative of the Round
Rock Police Department. It is an honor to know you, Jess and thank you for the interview!
City of Round Rock
Round Rock Police Department
2701 N Mays St
Round Rock, Texas 78665
Phone: (512) 218-5500
Fax: (512) 218-5539
2008 - Class 20
Citizen’s Police Academy Schedule
7 June 17th Identity Theft, and How to Avoid It Detective Feliciano Acevedo
SWAT Sgt Jim Stuart
9 July 1st How to Get a Job with the Officer Tom Hau
Round Rock Police Department Officer Dee Carver