DALLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

JULY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

Volume 13 Number 07

Behind The

BADGE

Inside this issue:

Inmate Art Gallery

Ramadan Dinner

New Power Washer

Retirement

Announcements

FROM THE SHERIFF

The Dallas County

Sheriff’s Depart-

ment was recog-

nized with a reso-

lution by the State

of Texas House of

Representatives.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department Clean Air Task Force was recently pre-

sented with a resolution from District 102 State Representative Stefani Carter dur-

ing the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. The resolution recognizes the depart-

ment’s instrumental leadership role in helping the state fight illegal emissions in-

spection activities.

The Regional Emissions Enforcement Program was created by the North Central

Texas Council of Government, in conjunction with Dallas County to assist local

law enforcement. The program is based on a comprehensive approach that in-

cludes on-road enforcement, covert operations, prosecution of offenders and col-

laboration among agencies which include the Texas Commission on Environmen-

tal Quality, the Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General’s Office.

Moreover, the department’s detection of fraudulent emissions inspection activity

has often led to the uncovering of related crimes, including money laundering,

drugs and weapons trafficking, as well as human trafficking.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department continues to represent well in the com-

munity. At the state level, District 102 State Representative Stefanie Carter re-

cently recognized the efforts of our Clean Air Task Force. Locally, our educational

and arts community joined the efforts in helping showcase some of the most tal-

ented artists who have set foot in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. Next month,

another citizens academy class will kickoff, helping educate our residents more

on what it is that we do throughout the various sections of the department.

—Sheriff Lupe Valdez

Legislative Resolution Honors Clean Air Task Force

Next Executive Staff

Evening Shift:

Sept. 11 and 12, 2013

Oct. 23 and 24, 2013

Dallas.Sheriff.Dept

@dallas_sheriff

Volume 13 Number 07 Page 2

Pictured Top-Left: Artist Jay Voltman next to two of his art works. Top-Right: Director of Inmate

Programs Yolanda Lara with Mr. Voltman’s mother and nieces during the opening reception.

Bottom-Left: Some of the general population pieces at the gallery. Bottom-Right: Over 30 pieces

of art designed by some of the mental illness jail population.

The Texas Visual Arts Association teamed up with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and El Cen-

tro College to feature some of the Dallas County jail inmates’ art. The Americana, Primitive, & Outsider

Art exhibition is open until August 31, 2013 at the TVAA’s downtown gallery inside the Plaza of the

Americas, Suite G207 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Guests at the opening reception had an opportunity to meet one of the artists, Jay Voltman, who has

rehabilitated himself since his incarceration. He, along with his mother and nieces, were in attendance

and talked about the great ventures Voltman has participated in thanks to the art course he took during

his time at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. Students taking the art courses under the jail inmate educa-

tion program get the opportunity, like Voltman, to channel their creativity in a positive manner. These art

courses have proven to be therapeutic and serve as helpful discipline to a population who may, other-

wise, not have an opportunity to learn about art.

Approximately 32.5 percent of the total Dallas County jail population enrolls in an El Centro College Jail

Education Program. These courses are made possible through the commissary funds. No tax payer

funds are used.

Texas Visual Arts Association Features Inmate Art

Volume 13 Number 07 Page 3

Ramadan Iftar Dinner

Pictured above: The department’s executive staff took part in a Ramadan iftar dinner during one of their

evening shifts in July.

The Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, formerly known as the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, recently joined

Sheriff Lupe Valdez and her executive staff for an iftar dinner. These evening meals take place in the Muslim

culture to break their fast at sunset before Maghrib Prayer. Dialog Institute members had the opportunity to

meet the sheriff and the rest of the chiefs for a second year in a row. The group also got a brief tour of the de-

partment.

The non-profit organization was established in 2002 by Turkish-Americans and aims to eliminate or reduce

false stereotypes, prejudices and unjustified fears through direct human communication. The institute is dedi-

cated to encouraging the study of global communities’ spiritual traditions from the vantage point of respect, ac-

curacy and appreciation. The organization does not accept favors nor does it promote any political or govern-

ment agency, be it foreign or domestic. The institute’s headquarters are in Houston and branch offices are lo-

cated in five other states.

To learn more about the Institute of Interfaith Dialog log on to: the dialoginstitute.org.

Happy Retirement Ms. Willie Faye Washington!

Volume 13 Number 07 Page 4

Funds For New Power Washer

Pictured above: Ann Robinson’s fundraising efforts helped the department acquire a new power

washer which will assist in the daily fleet maintenance duties.

The Intake/Release Section recently acquired a new power washer thanks to the fundraising efforts of Ann Robinson, through some bake sales. The machine is being used once a week to wash the transportation section’s fleet in the sallyport.

After twenty years of service Ms. Willie Faye Wash-ington is retiring from the Dallas County Sheriff’s De-partment.

Ms. Washington started her career as a clerk 4 and moved her way up quickly. During her retirement cel-ebration she stated that she will miss everyone deep-ly.

Congratulations Ms. Washington!

Volume 13 Number 07

Announcements

DEATHS

July 1, 2013: Margret King, mother of DSO Lashonda Lacy, North

Tower-2nd Watch, passed away.

July 3, 2013: Aleyamma Korah, mother of Clerk 8 Valson Scariah,

Bond Section, passed away.

July 6, 2013: Retired Sergeant Douglas E. Riggins, father of our

late Sgt. Kenneth Riggins, passed away.

July 12, 2013: Lois Bolden, aunt of Sgt. Penny Nelson, West Tow-

er-Court Desk, passed away.

July 13, 2013: Reverend LaDolle Hart, father of DSO Semie Hart,

Intake/Release Section-Supply Officer, passed away.

July 23, 2013: Rachel Zacariah, mother of Sussama George, DMU

-Intake-3rd Watch, passed away.

July 30, 2013: Constance Rall, aunt of Sr. Sgt. S. Burke, Vault and

Inmate Property-Release Section, passed away.

Our thoughts and prayers are with each family member during

this difficult time.

Shoppers’ Corner

Dallas County Sheriff’s Department

133 N. Riverfront Blvd. LB-31

Dallas, Texas 75207-4313

Page 5

Sheriff’s one inch badge lapel pins $3.50 each or get 3

for $10

Contact: Marian Ogletree (214) 653-3462

For submission of a newsletter item:

Carmen.Castro@dallascounty.org

For the latest updates:

www.dallas-sheriff.com

Rest In Peace: Retired Captain Valerie Ann Tartaglino Alvord: Surrounded by her family, Val Tartaglino passed from this earth June 29, 2013 after a fierce battle with ovarian cancer.

Val was born July 29, 1946, in McKinney, Texas. As a child, she was blessed with a great imagination and an environment that supported it and made it prosper. She was a mother, a grandmother, a sister, and defender of all creatures great and small.

Val worked in the Sheriff's Department in Dallas County where she rose to the position of captain during her thirty-year tenure. In 2000, she retired from that position and moved to her beloved farm in Wise Coun-ty where she pursued one of her great passions, the care of her other family, a variety of animals that kept her company and entertained her constantly.

It was also in Wise County where she made lifelong friends with the Over the Hill Gang, a group of avid cowgirls that rode and camped not only in the adjacent LBJ Grasslands but also venues across multiple states. Her other passion, travel, took her to all seven continents where she combined her love of horseback riding and the study of exotic crea-tures. She had adventures with elephants in Thailand and India, orangutans in Borneo, Andalusian horses in Spain, camels in the Out-back of Australia, Mountain Gorillas of Uganda, and penguins in Antarc-tica, just to name a few. She was always ready for her next adventure or the rescue of her next pet, and bravely ventured around the world even in illness until her strength finally left her. She never backed down from a challenge, and her bravery was admired by all those who knew and loved her. She was a writer, a painter, a musician and a veracious reader.

Perhaps no words can describe this extraordinary life other than her own that she wrote in one of her meticulously documented travel jour-nals, "External events may be hammer and file, torch and douse, but we create the mold into which we pour ourselves. Cratered by tragedy, burnished with laughter, peppered with irony, stung by desire, the ves-sel we pull from the bright crucible of our imagination is unique but nev-er quite finished. Every artist seeks a more perfectly crafted work."

Val is survived by her beloved daughter, Rene, and her two grandchil-dren, Austen and Valerie Dornich. She is also survived by her two sis-ters, Susan Tartaglino and Nancy Tartaglino Richards, and her brother, Jerry Tartaglino and his wife, Dena. She will be greatly missed by her nieces, Kati and Gigi Tartaglino and her nephews, David Richards and Stewart Richards, and his wife Jennifer. Numerous cousins, friends, and associates know that she was one-of-a-kind and will miss her sto-ries around family tables and friends' campsites. She was beautiful, brave and passionate. The family is grateful to all the loyal friends that weathered the storm of the last two years at her side.

The celebration of her life will take place in the chapel on the family ranch in Palo Pinto County. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Val Tartaglino at Turpentine Creek Wild-life Refuge, outside of Eureka Springs, AR, and can be made online at www.turpentinecreek.org.

Volume 13 Number 07 Page 6

Volume 13 Number 07 Page 7