Area briefing

POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE HONORS STUDENT WHO TURNED HER LIFE AROUND

The Southern Nevada Police Athletic League recently hosted a luncheon to honor Valley High School senior Brenda Parra and present her with a $3,000 college scholarship.

Parra, who was honored March 13, moved to Las Vegas at an early age and attended local elementary schools. By the time Parra entered junior high school, she became involved with gangs, started experimenting with drugs and eventually started skipping school, athletic league officials said.

When Parra was in seventh grade, her mother learned about the Southern Nevada Police Athletic League. Parra joined the league, and in her sophomore year of high school, she became involved with community service projects, gaining a new respect for herself and what she could accomplish.

After graduation, Parra aims to pursue a career in criminal justice or culinary arts.

The Southern Nevada Police Athletic League’s mission is to provide valley youths with positive alternatives through athletics, education and community. All of the league’s programs involve area law enforcement personnel as coaches, instructors, mentors and role models.

For more information, visit snpal.com.

POLICE INVITE COMMENTS DURING ACADEMY ACCREDITATION PROCESS

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is seeking public comments as part of its training academy’s on-site assessment to obtain initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc.

The academy must comply with nationally recognized standards established by the commission in order to be accredited. The assessment is set for April 9-12.

A phone-in session is set for 1 to 3 p.m. April 11 so community and department members can provide comments on the matter. Those wishing to comment can call 828-7303 to talk directly to the assessors.

Telephone comments during the session are limited to five minutes and must address the training academy’s ability to comply with commission standards. A copy of the standards is available for public viewing in the quality assurance department at the police department’s headquarters, 400 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Building A.

For more information, contact Lt. John Farrell at 828-5500.

LECTURE TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES

A lecture dealing with crime scene investigations is planned for 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the multipurpose room at the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Amy Nemcik, senior crime scene analyst for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, is set to lead the discussion, which is titled, "Real Life CSI."

The lecture will address the real-life processes of crime scene investigation, the different areas of study and some of the differences between Hollywood’s version and what happens on a day-to-day basis in Nemcik’s unit.

The program is free and open to everyone, organizers said.

For more information, call 507-3514.

LIFEGUARD TRAINING AVAILABLE

The city of Las Vegas is offering an American Red Cross lifeguard training course through May at the Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road, and the Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive.

Those who successfully complete the course will be certified for two years in lifeguard training, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using an automated external defibrillator.

Participants must be 15 or older.

For more information or to apply, visit lasvegasnevada.gov and click "I want to apply for" and then "jobs" or call 229-6309.