Nevada Highway Patrol recognizes troopers, announces promotions

The Nevada Highway Patrol has announced a number of promotions, advancements and replacements. According to Trooper Chuck Allen, NHP has promoted Joe McKay and Dave Cox to the rank of sergeant. Cox will be assigned to the Fallon area while McKay will remain in the Reno-Sparks area.
The senior leadership of NHP will also recognize the recent achievements of Carson City Trooper Chris Smithen in the commercial motor vehicle enforcement section. Smithen recently competed in a four-day Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance’s North American Inspectors Challenge in Minneapolis, Minn. There were competitors from Canada, Mexico and most of the 50 states, comprising of 50 competitors overall.

Trooper Smithen was awarded the prestigious Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award for his combined performances in six competition elements. He was also awarded the John Youngblood Award of Excellence. This latter accolade is a special award NAIC contestants bestow on a fellow NAIC inspector who exemplifies the high standards and unwavering dedication to the profession. For more information on these two awards and other accolades from the four-day event, please log onto the CVSA website at www.cvsa.org/news.

Additionally Thursday, Trooper Brett Tierney, a trooper based in the Reno area, will be receiving the Life Saving Medal for his quick and decisive actions displayed on August 17, 2011. He and other troopers were eating dinner at a Chili’s restaurant in Reno around 7:00 pm that evening. Seated nearby was a family of five that included Juanita Weaver and her two adult daughters and two grandchildren. Shortly thereafter, Andrea Poggione, one of Ms. Weaver’s daughters, informed the troopers that her mother was choking. Trooper Tierney reacted quickly and decisively and performed the Heimlich maneuver thus dislodging the food which immediately opened her airway. Ms. Weaver required no further medical assistance.

Also during Thursday’s event, NHP will introduce three troopers to Northern Nevada who will each be assuming the duties as public information officer (PIO) or spokespersons. Trooper Barb Stapleton will be replace Trooper Allen as the primary PIO for most of the NHP-Northern Command West geographical area while Trooper Garrett Bird will be assigned as the back-up PIO for Trooper Stapleton and will fill in for her when she is on leave or in times when she is otherwise unavailable.

For the greater Carson City, Minden-Gardnerville and Lake Tahoe areas, Trooper Dan Gordon will be the primary spokesperson and will be assisting the media outlets in these locations with information while Trooper Dan Lopez will continue to serve as an alternate PIO for this area. Their contact information will be sent out this week to the media outlets.

Trooper Allen will soon be starting his new role at NHP Headquarters in Carson City and will oversee media relations for the Office of the Chief as well as providing leadership, mentorship and training to the other Department of Public Safety-NHP spokespersons statewide.

Also during the event, NHP will also be recognizing Diana Marsteller with a certificate honoring her with 20 years of service to the organization. Diana began her career as a dispatcher in the NHP communications center and now serves in the Courts-Warrants section at the Northern Command West Headquarters.

Lastly, Trooper Chris Brandt will be thanked for his service as a highway patrolman as he is transferring over to the Nevada Parole and Probation Division where he will be promoted to the rank of sergeant.