Four sheriff's deputies honored by their peers

Four Nye County Sheriff's deputies were honored by their peers with plaques, during the annual Elks Club law enforcement dinner March 6.

Donna Jasperson was honored as Nye County sheriff's deputy of the year, Sgt. Rick Gleason was given the sergeant of the year award, Shelly Rogers of Beatty won the dispatcher of the year award and Mary Huggins was honored as volunteer of the year.

The Elks Club sponsored the awards, which were presented to sheriff's deputies based on voting by their fellow deputies.

Jasperson, a patrol deputy, has been with the Nye County Sheriff's Department about 20 years. During that time, Jasperson received training in handling sexual assault cases, was chief communications officer in the dispatch department, was a founding member of the mounted patrol that was formed a year ago and worked in animal control.

"She helped us when we were in dire straits with animal control," Sheriff Wade Lieseke said. "She's done just about everything in her career with the sheriff's department and she's done it well."

Gleason has been employed by the Nye County Sheriff's Department six years. Before that, he worked as a paramedic in Las Vegas for six years and prior to that was a U.S. Navy corpsman in Okinawa, Japan. Lieseke said Gleason rapidly rose in the ranks from deputy to sergeant.

"He's one of those guys who's absolutely dependable, trustworthy. He's a go-to guy when you need something done," Lieseke said.

Rogers, the sheriff said, is, like the "Girl Friday" of the Beatty sheriff's department substation. She helped prepare the policy and procedures manual, and has worked for the department 13 years.

Huggins was lauded by the sheriff for her help investigating a fatal auto-pedestrian accident on Mesquite Street during the Harvest Festival last October. Huggins said she was formerly a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper for eight years.

"I was the first female resident (NHP) trooper in Pahrump. I resigned my position in 1998 and started Mailboxes Etc.," Huggins said.

Huggins indicated her volunteerism as a reserve deputy goes far beyond the minimum requirements.

"We're required to put in only 16 hours (monthly) but I try to average 70, that's my goal," Huggins said. "It's combined between working at the sheriff's department and my continuing education toward my certificates."

"I enjoy law enforcement a lot. I stay active in it," she said. "I assisted the officers in the investigation of the fatal accident. Elements of the investigation have to be very, very specific."


<<--[back]