Letters to the Editor
Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, October 9, 1997 11
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Animal control officer speaks out
This letter is to introduce myself to those that have not
met me, but wonder who that Frank is that is always being
mentioned in the newspapers and at the commissioner
meetings. Also, to those who question my ability and
knowledge of the job I was hired to do.
My name is Frank Johnson, a deputy for Nye County
Animal Control. As of this date, I have worked as a law
officer for almost 20 years. I was with the Chicago Police
Department for 16 1/2 years, and the remaining years, here
with the Nye County Sheriffs Office. I can reasonably say
that my experience, knowledge and interpretation of the law
is pretty good.
I was trained by the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman
during the end of the Vietnam War, utilizing these skills for
four years. I then spent 12 years in the U.S. Air Force
Reserve as a MedicaI Technician with the 63rd AES in
Illinois and served in Desert Storm. I was stationed three
miles away from the Iraq and Kuwait border, where I, with
other crew members, flew casualties out of the combat area.
I feel my past medical experience qualifies me to look at an
animal and tell if it is in need of medical attention or if it is
being fed and cared for properly.
The sheriff's office also provides its employees with
continuing job related education.
To those people with the mentality that believe all I do is
drive around looking for animals to take away, you have no
idea how far you are from the truth. There are people that
can't act like adults when someone confronts therewith a
wrong, whether the wrong was done on purpose of through
neglect. They can't comprehend that someone actually
called the sheriff's office with a complaint about their
animals. Whether it be that their animals are running loose
or they are not being taken care of, even when they are told
this by a veterinarian who accompanies me on the more
serious calls. Animal Control Officers try to work with all
the people and try to get them help and advice with whatever
is wrong, but there are always those that just won't accept
the help offered.
When I applied to the sheriff's office, I was asked that if
I accepted the Animal Control Officer position, I would
remain in that position. In the past, the Animal Control
Officers wanted out of animal control and sought positions
as street deputies. I took the job, I'm happy I did, even with
all the accusations and innuend3es about how I do my job.
The "Thank you's" far outweigh the complaints by 100 to
one.
As long as I'm a deputy in Nye County, I will continue to
do my job to the best of my ability, even though there will
always he someone who will complain or disagree with my
actions.
Frank Johnson
Pahrump
Let the chips fall where they may
It was interesting to finally see a commentary by Com-
missioner Cameron McRae in the local papers explaining
how he is going to "help" the taxpayers of Nye County.
Perhaps in furore issues he could justify, through full and
complete disclosure, the historical facts of how it was
determined that the Nye County manager's extravagant
salary was set on $117,000 per year; the assistant manager's
salary at $100,Q00, for a county with an approximate popu-
lation of 30,000 people and the governor is paid $77,000!
Many decent taxpayers are very suspicious that there has
been, and continues to be, wholesale corruption and massive
cover-ups in our midst. Mr. McRae could really serve his
constituents by revealing the truth in this matter.
Another revelation he could provide us taxpayers with is
the $14 million "Taj Mahal," the luxurious Nye County
"Justice Center" in Tonopah, at a $4 million "cost over run."
Pahrumpians are forced to drive 170 miles for jury duty, or
"justice." Was due diligence ased to determine its jnstifica-
tion, while Pahrump is stuck with a tiny justice court?
Now that the state legislators passed a bill that empowers
the Fifth Circuit District Judge to travel to Pahrump and hold
court, would Mr. McRae assure us that this indeed will be a
reality? And, would he demand of Judge Davis to abide by
the law?
The majority of us taxpayers believe in less government
and lower taxes. We are vehemently against corruption,
fraud and waste, perpetuated by entrenched sinecure bu-
reaucrats. We are fed up with phony, two-faced, lying, big
spending politicians who are too busy buying votes, instead
of serving the public!
Mr. McRae, you have a wonderful opportunity to inform
us with the truth which sadly has been the best kept secret in
Nye County. Will you please let the chips fall where they
may and bring the truth out? Thank you.
For Sincerity,
Vlnce Bogdan
Pahrump
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Dialysis Survey results
Dear fellow board members, our money was well spent.
We received a total of 22 surveys, nine of which came with
names and addresses. Of the 22, only one listed an out of town
address and that was Amargosa Valley, four surveys indi-
cated that friends or relatives would he staying with the
responder that would require dialysis, one person responded
that while not a dialysis patient now, her doctor informs her
that she soon would be. Therefore we have a base of 17
possible dialysis patients that would like to get dialysis in
Pahrump.
Considering that there are probably going to he an addi-
tional three people a year in this valley requiring dialysis, plus
once word gets around that you can move back here or live
here if you are a dialysis patient, we could see and additional
influx of patients to an established dialysis unit here.
My thanks to all the fellow board members who helped
with this project, as well as Shirley Mitchell, and a special
thanks to Mr. Byron Foster, owner of PostNet, who gave us
use of a postal box for free for this project.
Johnny Walker
Pahrump Hospital Board Member.
Private property search
I want to say first of all, that I have liked Sheriff Wade
Lieseke, Jr. from the first meeting we had in Goldfield when
he ran for sheriff the first time. If I were his father, I would
be very proudofhim. Even ifI were, I would still be obligated
to comment on his remark at the Commission Meeting as
written in the PV Gazette, September 18.
In response to the Sheriffs statement, 'Whe SheriWs
Department has always had the right to enter property. That's
what we do as sheriffs .... to investigate probable cause. It all
has to do with probable cause."
Amendment 4 of the United States Constitution, the su-
preme law of the land reads: "The right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported
by Oath or Affirmation" and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to he seized."
If I understand this amendment, if the law officer has
probable cause, as the sheriff points out, to enter private
property to search or seize property, he must follow the law
and swear out a warrant before he or she can proceed. I know
it hinders instant gratification for the officer, but laws were
made to guarantee liberty for the individual as much as it is to
protect and maintain order.
If any state, federal, county, city or town enacts a law that
is repugnant to the United States Constitution, it is no la w and
cannot he enforced. A criminal is one who repeatedly violates
the law, whether or not he or she has knowledge of the law,
which includes our law officers. It would seem to me that the
people who have the responsibility of upholding the law,
should obey the law.
James Lee
Pahrump
Fourth Amendment misconceptions
I would like to take this opportunity to clear up some
misconceptions that appear to have been created during a
recent County Commissioners' meeting in Beatty during a
public hearing concerning Fourth Amendment rights, which
have to do with search and seizure.
In response to my good friend Jim Lee's "Lever to the
Editor" in the local paper, I believe Jim is under the mistaken
impression that peace officers require a search warrant any
time they enter someone's property. The U.S. Supreme Court,
recognizing that peace officers must be allowed to answer
calls in order to preserve the peace, has made clear rulings
concerning the Fourth Amendment which states that officers
may enter onto property without a warrant to investigate calls
for service where said officers have a clear legal right to be
there. I think Jim and others are confusing entering onto
property with entering homes to search without a warrant.
The fact that an animal control officer or a deputy sheriff
arrives at a residence and makes inquiries of the persons there
concerning the investigation of a complaint does not consti-
tute an unlawful search or seizure. The question is "How
could we be expected to do our jobs at all if this kind of
restriction were imposed by the U.S. Supreme Court concern-
ing searches and seizures?" The U.S. Supreme Court, which
is the highest law of the land, has ruled by interpretation of the
Fourth Amendment that there are several exons to war-
rantless searches and seizures. In other words, in certain
situatious an officer is not required to olain a search warrant
and may make lawful entries to residences when exigent
circumstances exist where an officer using "the Reasonable
Person Doctrine" would not have time to get a warrant if he
has reasonable cause to believe that a person's life was in
danger; the public safety, in general, were in danger (such as
a methamphetamine lab or a bomb that is set to explode); "The
Plain View Doctrine", which allows a warrandess entry if
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evidence of a crime is in plain view; warrantless searches
incident to arrest; and warrantless vehicle searches, with
probable cause to search established, which is allowed under
U.S. Supreme Court rulings, because vehicles are highly
mobile.
As you can see, Fourth Amendment issues are very com-
plicated and diverse, and my officers are well trained in what
the laws and the Supreme Court allow us to do or not to do
concerning constitutional fights, in general, and the Fourth
Amendment rights, in particular, and I make it a high priority
that we follow these guidelines.
Wade A. Lieseke, Jr.
Sheriff
Many thanks, from stop DUI
On behalf of STOP DUI, I Larry Beckner, (coordinator of
Pahrump STOP DUD want to say our first year would not
have been possible, here in Pahrump, without the support and
involvement of certain individuals.
First I would like to thank my officers, Pahrump Justice of
the Peace Margaret Tsafos (and her staff), Stacy Smith with
Westcare (counselor) and Sgt. Mark Clark, Nevada Highway
Patrol (and all his staff, and other officers), for all their
involvement, dedication, and belief in the progran
A very big thanks goes to District Attorney Beckett and his
office and staff, for all their support and involvement. To
SheriffWade Lieseke for implementing our STOP DUI pin to
the Nye County Sheriffs uniforms and his involvement with
the Victim's Impact Panel, as well as to all the Nye County
officers and other personnel, the ambulance, and fire depart-
ment and the town board and its entire staff. I would also like
to thank the community for letting STOP DUI use the com,
munity center to hold our Victim Impact Panel meetings.
To all the businesses that carry the ribbons and bumper
stickers, so they may he passed on to the rest of the commu-
nity. A special thanks for a contribution to STOP DUI by
Cellular One, and their continued support.
I would like to say a very special thanks to the local
speakers like Scott Riley, and Jack Whitcotten and others, for
their support. I also would like to say thank you Mr. Hill
(principal at Pahrump Valley High School) for letting STOP
DUI do a Victim's Impact Panel at the high school last year
and hopefully each year to come and for letting us put a sign
up on the football field, to carry on the reminding message,
Please don't drink and drive, and please try and make better
choices when you do go out, so you do not harm yourself as
well as anyone else.
Finally, I would like to thank Mary Ann McNeill and her
entire staff at the Pahrump Valley Gazette, for running our
public announcements and organization name in all their
issues.
We know this senseless crime will not be going away
anytime soon. However, we also know we cannot tackle this
major problem alone. That's why we ask everyone's partici-
pation by just maybe altering their choices and maybe look
at your family member, or friend, and go ou t of your way if
you see they have been drinking, rather than do nothing and
let them get 'behind the wheel.
We are always looking for victims to speak at the panels
as well as letting victims know that we are also here to help
them in the event they are involved in crash,by a drunk driver.
We have a local 24-hour hotline here in Pahrump which is :
751-3173.
Last, I would like to thank my family for being supportive
and being there for me, since I too am a victim, Especially to
my middle daughter Melissa Beckner, for spea_king regularly
at the panels, in Henderson, Pahrump, and Las Vegas, and
hope she will continue to do so in the future.
Thank you once again, to anyone who has given STOP
DUI or myself and others any support.
Larry Beckner
Stop DUI Pahrump coordinator
Response to public administrator
Ramsey
This letter is in response to Nye County Public Adminis-
trator Claire Ramsey's letter published in local papers dated
September 26, 1997.
Dear Ms. Ramsey:
First of all, I am the so called land lady in the letter. I am
Continued on page 14
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The Pahrump Valley
Gazette corrects mistakes. Errors shoeld he
brought to the attention of the newspaper by ealfing
727-$$83.
OOO
AU opinlem expressed on page are of
the or anthor The rwervm
the right to eda d hStm for ud
Furthermore, letters with names will rely
be puidished if a legitimate fear of retribution existL
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