Cops open up their shop

Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong cracked a sanguine grin and let slip a little-known fact that told everything one needed to know about his department's fifth annual sheriff's open house Saturday.

"Some of the people here - who brought their kids - are people that've had (problems) with us in the past," he said. "This is about kicking off the summer season, and about community outreach.

"But to see some of the adult faces here - that we've met before under not-so-favorable circumstances; for them to bring their kids and enjoy the day; maybe that says something."

As if on cue, a throng of children six strong, all under the age of seven, circled the sheriff and asked him for directions, balloons, a flier handout - whatever.

"See?" he said. "This is a really good display of what services there are in Carson. This is absolutely a way to set the tone for the summer."

The services included Carson City Health and Human Services, Elks Lodge 2177 and a dozen Boy Scouts helping one of their own complete his Eagle Scout community service project.

Zach White, 14, an eighth grader from Eagle Valley Middle school, cajoled Scouts from his Troop 341 to help with a child identification project in the sheriff's headquarters.

A line of eager parents and children stretched out the door as Scouts took children by the hand, stamped their fingers and swiped white placards.

"It's so if something happens, they have their (fingerprints) on record," said scout Dion Copoulos, 14, an eighth grader at Carson Middle School.

Technology in child identification has also made a quantum leap as parents were also able to swab their childs' cheeks with a Q-Tip for a DNA sample.

"DNA sample?" queried Frank Urbani, a Carson City resident who brought his grandsons Nathan Brown, 11, of Carson City and Christopher Brancamp, 9, of Reno to be registered. "Things have changed."

"This is a project my brother did to earn his (Eagle Scout)," White said. "It just feels really good that these kids registering have a good shot if something happens.

"I feel like it's an important way to serve."

White said he spent almost seven months on the project, including coordinating members of his troop to get their fingerprinting merit badges prior to unleashing them on the general public.

"A lot of work went into this day," he said.

Whether it was the motorcycle deputies carefully navigating coned-off figure eights, the sheriff's mounted division letting children pet their trusty steeds or even spouses of deputies on-hand to give impromptu tours of the new headquarters for local law enforcement - which many said they saw for the first time Saturday, the unofficial kick-off to summer seemed to be a success.

"I think, speaking as a (spouse) of a deputy that this day means so much," said Megan Sloan, who accompanied toddler son, Aidan, into the station to find husband, Dan. "This station represents a sheriff's department that is growing and growing with the community.

"I think every (attraction) here today is relevant - and, I can't speak for everyone, but it appears people are enjoying themselves."