While working as a patrol officer in Las Vegas assigned to an area in close proximity to the Strip, we experienced a series of violent sexual assaults.  The suspect, described as a Cuban male, would stalk the women who were getting off the night shift at the hotels.  As they walked up to their apartment putting the key in the door, the suspect would rush up, pushing the woman inside, and violently assault her.  This occurred week after week, and it was frustrating as an officer because by the time the women, who were so traumatized, called 9-1-1 the suspect was long gone.

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All that changed one night while patrolling the area where the assaults were occurring.  Suddenly the radio beeped, signifying a felony crime in progress and the address was right around the corner from my location.  I immediately turned off my headlights and pulled my vehicle into a dark alley on a hunch that the suspect would take this escape route.  Sure enough, within minutes I saw the silhouette of a man running down the alley in my direction.  I knew it was him so I reached over and turned on my redheads and high beam headlights as I pressed the accelerator to the floor, racing toward him.

The suspect looked like a deer caught in the headlights as I screeched my vehicle to a halt, stopping within inches of his legs.  He was taken into custody, and that night the crime series ended when the latest victim, a young woman, had the ability to quickly compose herself and call 9-1-1.  If this woman had not been able to gather herself so she could respond to what had happened instead of being paralyzed by fear, we may have never caught this criminal and stopped the violence.

As a retired police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, I have learned in my twenty-one years of service that an informed proactive, community goes a long way in preventing crimes from occurring.  It is a reality in the dangerous world we live in that police response times are generally inadequate to capture criminals at the scene, let alone prevent a crime from occurring.  You can bridge that gap by being informed and equipped.  In the “Living Fearlessly” workshop you will learn:

  • How to develop an aware, confident attitude and proactive mindset.
  • How to overcome fear and respond instead of react.
  • What to do if confronted by an attacker.

Join me this Saturday, September 26th, 1 – 2:30 pm at the Green Valley Library for an impactful time.

Living Fearlessly in a Dangerous World