New Henderson crime lab touted

I would like to hear comments about what the residents feel about the need for a (a second) full-service crime lab in the Las Vegas valley.(I can assure you we have a HUGE need, and it is a critical problem.)

LVMPD has a lab, but it is overwhelmed with work, currently has a significant shortage of qualified DNA Analysts (DNA Lab Manager and DNA Technical Leader to be precise), and does not own the building the lab is housed in (it is being leased since last year).

Please review our website. I hope it will answer many of your questions. I also am sure it will stir up more questions, and I am anxious to hear them. Please review the Forensic Science Center (Crime Lab) project website at www.NevadaCSI.com You can also contact me at chairman@friendsofhendersoncsi .com

Thank you,

Rick

I think you have a great idea. Our community is growing every day and we need more crime labs. I live in Las Vegas and am hoping to relocate to Henderson just as soon as my Las Vegas home sells.
I was a Private Investigator for 7 years and would like to help in any way by donating some of my time to help you out with any investigative needs. My e-mail address is Venitapi702@aol.com

No! WE need more lakes and parks to stem the onset of crime.
You have everyone crammed into tiny lots in a relatively small city with excessive police on every corner adding to the pressure along with 100 degree heat. Society needs places to relax and reduce daily stress. Crime labs are an end result to crime and only serve to support shotty police work.
People already voted to increase the sales tax to pay for more cops. If they need more labs then they can use that money or maybe lay some off and use the money they save on wages to build more labs.
Talk about being greedy.
We are getting tired of the legal system stealing money from our pockets by imposing taxes. Let the rich Cassinos pay for it.
No one ever thinks ahead in the Vegas valley. Its always after the fact. Are you willing to increase you property taxes again and again?
We vote no more taxes.

Betty,
(Part 1 of 2, requires 2 parts due to the size restriction)

Thank you for your feedback. This is definitely NOT a project asking for tax payer money. Not one cent. Please look at the website NevadaCSI.com . If you read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) area, that may answer many of your questions and concerns. I am doing this project as a private citizen, who understands the needs of the citizens of our valley in regard to forensic investigation resources (because I do work for the Police Department as a civilian employee). I am doing the fundraising portion of this project on my own time, having spent much of the last two years preparing to get to the point we are at now, and for the time being, using my own money. Luckily, some very concerned and caring citizens, such as Connell Outdoor Advertising have stepped forward to help, and to encourage others to do the same. Their billboard, currently at Wynn and Russell Roads (until July 31) have presented opportunities for me to work with the local media to help promote this project. Also fortunately, many of the local media organizations have stepped forward and put a lot of time and effort into researching this project and publishing stories, such as in the LVRJ, the Henderson Home News, the View, and KLAS TV 8. I was also contacted by KBLR TV Telemundo and hope to see something from them and many other news organizations soon. Please believe me when I say this is a project that was needed many years ago, and no one in Henderson had any desire or plan to go to the Citizens for taxes to pay for the construction of this facility. I gave 20 years of my life to the Citizens of our nation, serving in the U.S. Air Force. I retired and began serving the citizens of this valley, as a public servant, 12 years ago. I only know how to serve, and I am thankful that I can do certain things, in some small way, to help protect people and to help save lives. I am a resident, a taxpayer, and just as concerned about taxes as anyone else in this valley. That is why I have been and continue to dedicate so much of my personal time (all of it in fact for the past 2 years), and the time of my family, to this project and also as an employee of Henderson, serving you, your neighbors, my neighbors, my family, and the rest of the citizens and visitors to our area.

My goal is to get many of the larger private organizations and businesses in the Las Vegas Valley to contribute to this critically needed project. Casinos and hotels definitely included. I understand you have very strong negative feelings about the sales tax initiative that is helping to pay for the salaries and some of the equipment for more police officers. This project is not about more police. In fact, the few Evidence Technicians, Crime Scene Analysts and Forensic Lab employees we now have and the many more who will operate the Forensic Science Center (crime lab), are and will be civilian employees.

Police Officers tend to spend their time responding to crimes for service, to save lives in immediate situations, and patrol areas looking for indicators to help them anticipate and prevent crime.

Part 2 of 2

The sad fact is... crime is going to happen. We need to use forensic technology to help process crime scenes and to process and analyze evidence. We need DNA Analysis capability in order to identify suspects and stop them before they can rob, rape, or kill again.(The DNA analysis capability in southern Nevada is extremely limited, and case backlogs are not expected to be cleared by current labs in our state or others in the near future. Cops (Police Officers) in this valley (for the most part) do not conduct the detailed examination and analysis of evidence that is required of our forensic experts (all in Henderson and LVMPD are civilian). Forensics (in most of Nevada and many other parts of the country) is a totally separate group of professional fields, and each specialty requires many years of initial and recurring training and experience to process evidence which will solve and prevent crimes.

By the way, Henderson prides itself in having a huge abundance of parks throughout the City. I believe that www.cityofhenderson.com has links on the pages that will explain the numbers of parks we have available for our use.

Thank you again for your feedback. It afforded me the opportunity to try to answer questions and concerns that many others may also have. I may also need to add more information to the website to ensure that those who read it have a clear understanding that I am not seeking tax payer money to pay for this Forensic Science Center construction project.

Thanks again,

Rick Workman
Chairman, Friends of Henderson CSI
www.NevadaCSI.com

Betty Jones Henderson NV wrote:

No! WE need more lakes and parks to stem the onset of crime.
You have everyone crammed into tiny lots in a relatively small city with excessive police on every corner adding to the pressure along with 100 degree heat. Society needs places to relax and reduce daily stress. Crime labs are an end result to crime and only serve to support shotty police work.
People already voted to increase the sales tax to pay for more cops. If they need more labs then they can use that money or maybe lay some off and use the money they save on wages to build more labs.
Talk about being greedy.
We are getting tired of the legal system stealing money from our pockets by imposing taxes. Let the rich Cassinos pay for it.
No one ever thinks ahead in the Vegas valley. Its always after the fact. Are you willing to increase you property taxes again and again?
We vote no more taxes.

Venita Portillo wrote:

I think you have a great idea. Our community is growing every day and we need more crime labs. I live in Las Vegas and am hoping to relocate to Henderson just as soon as my Las Vegas home sells.
I was a Private Investigator for 7 years and would like to help in any way by donating some of my time to help you out with any investigative needs. My e-mail address is Venitapi702@aol.com

Venita,

Thank you for your kind offer. I am out of town (learning more about forensics) but will do my best to contact you soon upon my return to Nevada.

Thanks again,

Rick Workman
Chairman, Friends of Henderson CSI
www.NevadaCSI.com

Hello Rick,
You initiative is truly a wonder.I am based in Kenya and our company is caleed CSI Nairobi,www.csinairobi.com.We are trying to raise $3million to kick start our facility this December 2007.
We have a very difficult task here,seeing that it will be the first private DNA forensic facility in Africa.
We are also trying to raise this money using individual investors,banks,etc.
I wish you well indeed and hope that you acquire your facility.

Hi,
I have been looking for a crime lab i can work in but unfortunately havent found any in my country,i have keen interest to use my skills as a microbiologist to help in solving crime let me know if someone needs my help,thanks.

Betty Jones Henderson NV wrote:

No! WE need more lakes and parks to stem the onset of crime.
You have everyone crammed into tiny lots in a relatively small city with excessive police on every corner adding to the pressure along with 100 degree heat. Society needs places to relax and reduce daily stress. Crime labs are an end result to crime and only serve to support shotty police work.
People already voted to increase the sales tax to pay for more cops. If they need more labs then they can use that money or maybe lay some off and use the money they save on wages to build more labs.
Talk about being greedy.
We are getting tired of the legal system stealing money from our pockets by imposing taxes. Let the rich Cassinos pay for it.
No one ever thinks ahead in the Vegas valley. Its always after the fact. Are you willing to increase you property taxes again and again?
We vote no more taxes.

So let me get this right. You want the casinos who already pay taxes so we are not required to pay state taxes, to foot the bill? Also you want the state to build more parks and lakes so you can have more stress release? That sounds like welfare. Get a clue, in a civilized society we all pitch in to help the community. Another crime lab to help with the Vegas lab sounds great. The faster they process the evidence the faster we get a violent criminal off the streets. But hey, heck with that you need another park that us taxpayers pay for for ever for up keep. Just so you can have some stress relief from your life. Sounds like you need prozac. Not a new park, that us taxpayers foot the bill on. Raising your taxes more causing poor you more stress. You want to be safe, but you don't want to foot the bill. You sound like a Democrat.

build 2 labs and raise the property taxes, and sales taxes. (i dont pay taxes,, ;-)

Hey betty, tape a knife to a wall and run into it

I take my 4 yr old grandson to the Anthem Park all the time, and I've never seen any criminals running rampant because the park was overcrowded.
The only gripe I've got about Anthem Park is the arrogance of the Jaguar, Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac, and other fancy car drivers thinking they can intimidate my old 93 Linc-Merc.

Edwin R wrote:

I take my 4 yr old grandson to the Anthem Park all the time, and I've never seen any criminals running rampant because the park was overcrowded.
The only gripe I've got about Anthem Park is the arrogance of the Jaguar, Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac, and other fancy car drivers thinking they can intimidate my old 93 Linc-Merc.

well ya haf ta git a fancy car , as they dont haf ta follow da rules dont ya know ;-))

Betty Jones Henderson NV wrote:

No! WE need more lakes and parks to stem the onset of crime.
You have everyone crammed into tiny lots in a relatively small city with excessive police on every corner adding to the pressure along with 100 degree heat. Society needs places to relax and reduce daily stress. Crime labs are an end result to crime and only serve to support shotty police work.
People already voted to increase the sales tax to pay for more cops. If they need more labs then they can use that money or maybe lay some off and use the money they save on wages to build more labs.
Talk about being greedy.
We are getting tired of the legal system stealing money from our pockets by imposing taxes. Let the rich Cassinos pay for it.
No one ever thinks ahead in the Vegas valley. Its always after the fact. Are you willing to increase you property taxes again and again?
We vote no more taxes.

better still go back to mi. if our system is so bad.

iblosted wrote:

<quoted text>better still go back to mi. if our system is so bad.

Idiot, I am not from MI. Shows how much you know about computer routers.
Enjoy your Henderson cop killing Americans and then justifying it as being the only way to control the situation.

Mark this, Henderson cops will get away with it each and every time and you will never have any thing to say about it.

Its not the bad guys you should fear but those uneducated 2 time killer cops that are being allowed to remain on the force.

You could be next.
If not for a simple driving citation then they will make something up and will end up shooting you.

well in that case stick around may be the henderson police mite find ya .

Response wrote:

<quoted text>
Idiot, I am not from MI. Shows how much you know about computer routers.
Enjoy your Henderson cop killing Americans and then justifying it as being the only way to control the situation.
Mark this, Henderson cops will get away with it each and every time and you will never have any thing to say about it.
Its not the bad guys you should fear but those uneducated 2 time killer cops that are being allowed to remain on the force.
You could be next.
If not for a simple driving citation then they will make something up and will end up shooting you.

Both Albanians have criminal records.
The policeman shot the woman as she lunged at his partner with a knife. This is immediately after the partner had tasered her for violent behavior.
This is a clear cut case of deadly force saving an officer from death or injury.
Hats off to both officers!

Please remember. Forensic Crime Laboratories, though many are under the organizational control of police departments, have a mission of finding facts. We do not judge, we do not take sides (hard as it may be at times). We research, examine, evaluate, test, analyze, and report our findings. Our standard is to provide unbiased information to present to the public and in a court of law. Yes, it is a difficult thing to be an employee or a "minor" organization within a police department, and as you can imagine, it is often a struggle. But, not how to report the facts, but how to stave off any attempt or perception of bias, pressure, etc.

Luckily, there are crime lab employees throughout the country, and in particular in Henderson, who will put their word and integrity on the line every day... regardless of the "side" that is helped, or the persons who are asking for the information. And... we aren't always the most favored persons in the police departments, I certainly am not, to say the least. But, we don't lose much sleep over that.

Thanks for the thoughtful comments.

I haven't updated the website in sometime, but feel free to check us out at www.nevadacsi.com . Within a couple months, we'll begin updating the site again. And, I'll use the comments/concerns in this site, to address issues you are concerned about.

Thanks again,

Rick Workman
Captain, US Air Force (retired)
Chairman, Friends of Henderson CSI
Forensics/Crime Lab Administrator, City of Henderson

Rick Workman wrote:

Please remember. Forensic Crime Laboratories, though many are under the organizational control of police departments, have a mission of finding facts. We do not judge, we do not take sides (hard as it may be at times). We research, examine, evaluate, test, analyze, and report our findings. Our standard is to provide unbiased information to present to the public and in a court of law. Yes, it is a difficult thing to be an employee or a "minor" organization within a police department, and as you can imagine, it is often a struggle. But, not how to report the facts, but how to stave off any attempt or perception of bias, pressure, etc.
Luckily, there are crime lab employees throughout the country, and in particular in Henderson, who will put their word and integrity on the line every day... regardless of the "side" that is helped, or the persons who are asking for the information. And... we aren't always the most favored persons in the police departments, I certainly am not, to say the least. But, we don't lose much sleep over that.
Thanks for the thoughtful comments.
I haven't updated the website in sometime, but feel free to check us out at www.nevadacsi.com . Within a couple months, we'll begin updating the site again. And, I'll use the comments/concerns in this site, to address issues you are concerned about.
Thanks again,
Rick Workman
Captain, US Air Force (retired)
Chairman, Friends of Henderson CSI
Forensics/Crime Lab Administrator, City of Henderson

How does a person retire from the AF as a captain?
Isn't that impossible?

Rick, I agree with Kinyanjui Murigi, your initiative is truly a wonder. A crime lab in Henderson would be great. Good luck!

My friend Nicole Salazar has been missing (from henderson)for 14 years, i wish we would have had a lab back then. It might have helped, I don't know, that's your area of expertise.

But, I do admire your hard work!