Education doesn’t stop at high school

Does Hollywood portray a version of life? Speaking with a resident the other day, we found a common bond discussing a TV show that began and ended before I was born. I presume the resident was raising children during this time. From 1957 to 1963 “Leave It to Beaver” portrayed a different America from today. Family, parents, children and social responsibility had defined identities. Good, bad or indifferent, it was a vision that reminds me of Boulder City.

During the past week, I had the pleasure of speaking with a few children in need. It seems some of our kids fail to realize the benefit of attending school. As I told these youngsters, education is one thing no one can take away from you. Just as the resident told me during our conversation, “We began to fail as a nation when we stopped investing in education.”

Education goes beyond high school. It’s our responsibility to be educated and impress that ideal of knowledge on our children. It’s just as important for us to be educated about laws. Nevada statutes inform us about the requirements of parents and students regarding school attendance. So please make sure the kids attend school and are well-behaved. I admonished the children I spoke to by telling them to go to school because the school building I could take them to had bars and no recess.

“Control, 269 we’ll be in service. The bells about to ring.”

Sunday, Oct. 6. Officers are out with a subject who was sleeping in front of Ace Hardware. The residentially challenged subject missed Art in the Park and camping supplies at Ace. It is 2 a.m. Our friend is provided a courtesy trip a little closer toward his final destination, Arizona.

Monday, Oct. 7. The witching hour has arrived and a caller reports seeing a backpack near a new bicycle, with no one around near Capri Drive. Officers make contact with a subject who has been convicted for theft and drug use.

Well, the prowler went to jail for prowling and possession of illegal drugs. Dependent behaviors involving negative practice will never produce positive outcomes. Guess this person hasn’t learned that.

Tuesday, Oct. 8. It’s lunch time and officers are with a suspicious subject near New Mexico and Cherry streets. A records check of the subject reveals the big W — no kin to a former president. No, the subject is wanted on a warrant. Lunch is provided compliments of the Henderson Detention Center.

Wednesday, Oct. 9. A bona fide boxing competition is allowed per Nevada statue. But a fight involving two women near homes behind 7-Eleven on Nevada Way isn’t a good thing. Egos got in the way and after a couple of blows, one bit the other’s finger, all the way to the bone. Ouch! Thank goodness they build big jails.

Thursday, Oct. 10. Officer sees a clue. He slows down and the driver makes a quick right turn, no turn signal. Patience pays off as the officer goes straight and makes the next right. They meet again. The story is shaky, kind of like the driver’s hands. Officer has probable cause to search and the K-9 partner is off. A sniff here, a sniff there. Bingo! No, that’s not the dog’s name. The methamphetamine is located. Clark County Detention Center has no shortage of rooms.

Friday, Oct. 11. Traffic stops were the call of the day. It seemed like taking candy from a baby. One passenger was arrested for illegal narcotics, another driver for DUI, another for driving on suspended registration. Even a walker was stopped and arrested for ex-felon fail to change address. And that was during the day. Trying to keep the streets safe, it’s a great calling!

Saturday, Oct. 12. Believe it or not, sometimes officers stop subjects for a somewhat minor violation and end up with an arrest. The law does not discriminate. Case in point: Officer stops a person for a suspended vehicle registration near Albertson’s. Not only that, the driver is checked and she has an active warrant.

It gets worse. After being arrested, she is searched and the officer finds her in possession of methamphetamine. The interesting dynamic in all this, the arrestee could have been anyone’s grandmother.

A safe week at work is always a great ending! Next week we’ll do it all over again. I hope everyone is getting ready for Halloween. I have my costume.

Officer Jeffrey Grasso is a 10-year veteran of the Boulder City Police Department. He previously served as a police officer in south Florida for four years.