Public Information Officer: J. Armando Avina | Email
Office: (775) 328-6370
Pager: (775) 861-7208
Cell: (775) 771-8252

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is concerned with keeping the community informed about the operation of the Sheriff's Office. One of the ways to accomplish this is by regularly keeping the news media, and thereby the public, informed of events involving the Sheriff's Office and its personnel. The Public Information Officer (P.I.O.) coordinates this by acting as a liaison between the Sheriff's Office and media representatives. Duties include assisting reporters assigned to cover news stories and providing them with general information at the scene of major incidents. Our goal is to provide timely and factual information to the community we serve.

The P.I.O. is available 24 hours a day to respond to the scene of major incidents.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            July 2, 2010

Sheriff’s Office Cautions Churches, Charities,
and Fundraising Organizations of Fraud

VICTIM/S:       Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church

SUSPECT/S:            Unknown at this time

CONTACT:     PIO Deputy J. Armando Avina
911 Parr Blvd Reno, NV 89512
Office 328-6370, Cell 771-8252, After Hours Pager 861-7208
www.washoesheriff.com 

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Detectives want to alert fundraising organizations to the possibility of persons passing fraudulent checks in the Truckee Meadows. 

On June 22, 2010, a Washoe County Deputy responded to a report of fraud at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church.  Saint Rose of Lima sells Scrip, which is discount cards for various stores/merchants, for their fundraising program to assist in their day-to-day operational expenses.  The Church received three separate checks totaling $1,200 for the purchase of Retail Scrip.  These checks were fraudulent and the case was assigned to the Detectives Division on July 1, 2010.

Detectives want participants in Scrip Programs to be cognizant when receiving checks.  Here are safe guards when dealing with unknown persons; don’t accept checks that are not signed, request a photo ID, verify the person on the ID is the person presenting the check, and/or contact the financial institution for further information.      

If you’ve been a victim of fraud, please contact your local law enforcement agency.  If you have any information regarding this crime contact the Sheriff’s Detective Division at 328-3320 or Secret Witness at 322-4900.