Central Patrol Division Crime Prevention Officer

 

Patty Gallagher began working with law enforcement in 1990 as a volunteer with the Kootenai County Substance Abuse Council in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in the substance abuse prevention field.  Over the years with the KCSAC she progressed from a parent volunteer all the way to Executive Director.  As director, she worked directly with Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Spirit Lake, and Hayden Lake Police Departments, as well as the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department and Idaho State Police.

Working with Idaho State Police, Patty designed a brochure, Meth Is My Neighbor, for use with a program they developed to bring public awareness to methamphetamine labs.  She was able to get grant funding to publish the brochure and have it distributed statewide.  In addition, she assisted Idaho State Police in doing the Meth Is My Neighbor presentations as a speaker.

Patty contacted a national speaker on club drugs and raves and was able to get grant funding to bring him to the County and had the classes POST Certified for all Law Enforcement Officers to continue their education on the topic at no cost to their departments two years in a row.  She continued working with the speaker and developed a new program and brochure called Club Drugs & Kids - A Deadly Combination.  Patty has done presentations on both methamphetamine and club drugs for several years to various community groups, middle and high schools, college sociology classes, parenting classes, Boy and Girl Scouts, prevention conferences, CASA staff, Head Start staff, Victim Assistance volunteers, law enforcement, and the general public.

In Idaho, Patty served on the Coeur d'Alene School District 271 Drug Advisory Committee, Kootenai County 'Enough Is Enough' Committee, Kootenai County Jail Addition & Pierce Clegg Work Release Center Committee, Kootenai County Communities That Care, Idaho State Region I Regional Substance Abuse Authority Board of Directors, and the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare Substance Abuse Prevention Standards Committee.  She received the Idaho State Police Distinguished Citizen Award in 2000 and the Idaho State Award for Devotion and Contribution to the Field of Substance Abuse Prevention: The Outstanding Service Award for Region I in 2003.

Since moving to Arizona, Patty became a volunteer with the Mesa Police Department in 2005 as a DUI Van driver, VAPS (Victim Assistance), Assistance in Disaster Services, and in the Crime Free Multi-Housing and Crime Prevention units.  As a volunteer she received the President's Silver Volunteer Service Award in 2005, Mesa Police Department Volunteer of the Year for 2006, and the Mesa Police Department Community Impact Award for 2006.  Patty became a full-time Crime Prevention Officer in May of 2007 and is continuing her education in the field while working.

To schedule a presentation for your group, neighborhood or employees, work with your business, start a Neighborhood Watch, or for any other crime prevention related information, please contact Patty at 480-644-2033 or by email to patty.gallagher@mesaaz.gov.