Douglas celebrates veteran

Editor's Note: Douglas County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Orr recently received recognition from Douglas County for 25 years of service. Orr is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the battle of Khe Sanh in 1968. He recently answered questions about his career.

Q. Why did you go into law enforcement?

A. I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1970 and several Southern California police agencies were recruiting for officers. At the time, I wished to get as far away from uniforms, guns, and regimentation as I possibly could. I returned to college in Sacramento, Ca. studying business administration and working as a night auditor at a local Holiday Inn. I continued to be promoted at a rapid pace and soon found myself managing a Holiday Inn in Bakersfield, Calif. In 1974, I moved to South Lake Tahoe where I was the General Manager of The Waystation, now the Tahoe Beach and Ski Club. I left there and became a games dealer at Harrah's Tahoe. I transferred to Harrah's Reno where I began studying criminal justice at UNR.

I decided to go into law enforcement because, 11 years after leaving the Marine Corps, I missed many of the things I had in the corps.

I missed the pride, the tradition, the responsibility, the camaraderie, as well as the mental and physical challenges encountered. I found these and more in the law enforcement profession.

Q. Are you surprised that you are still at it after 25 years?

A. No. I joined the Douglas County Sheriff's Office as a Reserve Officer in 1981 at the age of 33. A year later I was hired as a full time Deputy Sheriff. I have had the opportunity to work in every division within the Department and I still love the job today as much as the first day the badge was pinned on my chest. Out of my 25 years of service, over 17 years have been spent in the Patrol Division. I cannot believe it has been 25 years already.

Q. What is the biggest change you've experienced in the community in the past 25 years?

A. The unprecedented growth of Douglas County has certainly changed the community. Just look at the Letters to the Editor and read the anger and the polarization concerning many different issues that has occurred in our wonderful community. This is still a great community and compared to other locations, we enjoy a wonderful quality of life here, but we don't seem to be as friendly nor as innocent as we were 25 years ago or when I moved here over 33 years ago. The common courtesies and mutual respect we showed our fellow community members were the norm, not the exception.

From a law enforcement vantage, we are seeing the national trends of more incidents of violence, violence committed by younger people, male and female, and the proliferation of illegal drug trafficking and use, especially the scourge of methamphetamine, invading our community.

Q. What aspects of law enforcement do you enjoy the most? The least?

A. The unknown. Every day is different in the law enforcement profession. I am honored and respectful of the trust issued to law enforcement officers by the public we serve. I enjoy the varied roles law enforcement officers play within the community. We are not just law enforcers; we are members, as well as leaders of the community, entrusted with maintaining order and public safety within our community.

The least enjoyable aspects of law enforcement are handling crimes of violence, especially against children and the elderly.

Q. Law enforcement departments across the country seem to be having some difficulty retaining and recruiting good personnel. Any thoughts on why or solutions?

A. Nationally, the law enforcement field is facing a unique challenge in the recruitment and retention of qualified law enforcement personnel. Due to factors such as the war in Iraq, changing demographics and a healthy job market, the demand for law enforcement services continues to increase while the supply of "qualified" personnel is declining. DCSO is just a microcosm of the rest of the nation. However, Sheriff Pierini, Undersheriff Howell, and the command staff are committed to not lowering our hiring standards just to fill open positions. DCSO is recognized as one of the most ethically-based and professional law enforcement organizations in the State of Nevada. In order to maintain and grow upon this reputation, we cannot and will not lower our hiring standards.

Certainly another factor hampering DCSO's ability to recruit is the cost of living in Douglas County. The cost of housing alone has skyrocketed, making it difficult or impossible for entry level persons and their families to afford decent housing. Some jurisdictions provide housing assistance or signing bonuses for the employee's commitment of a specified amount of time serving the agency and the community.

Currently, the military is drawing from the same employment pool as law enforcement which greatly reduces the number of applicants. Baby-boomers that entered law enforcement in the 1970s are leaving in droves, so it will be some time until this ripple-effect is overcome. I would like to see more local young people seeking careers in law enforcement, specifically with Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

With the unprecedented law enforcement openings nationwide, it becomes a buyer's market for the law enforcement professional who wishes to jump from one agency to another to reap real or perceived improved benefits or employment opportunities. Many officers are leaving the profession entirely.

Q. What do you hope to be doing in five years?

A. I'm extremely excited about the future. Many people my age and with tenure in their profession are thinking about retirement. Retirement is not even a consideration at this point. I am busy completing a masters degree in justice management at UNR. I realize there are enormous challenges facing DCSO in the coming years. I intend to be part of the management team that addresses and overcomes those challenges. I have also come to realize that there exists a global market, both in the public and private sectors, which seeks leadership and management skills consistent with those that I have developed and experienced. I would consider an executive position if the fit was right for all the stakeholders involved. Also, I have been an adjunct professor with the Western Nevada Community College Criminal Justice Department for the past 14 years. I enjoy teaching tomorrow's law enforcement officers and other practitioners of the criminal justice system. Therefore, full time teaching is an option. So, the future is wide open with several options available to me. I find that very exciting.

Q. Talk about your family and what their support means to you, and the sacrifices you have made and they have made.

A. My wife and children have been an integral element to my success as a law enforcement officer. There are many challenges facing a cop's family. Shift work is probably the most prevalent and omnipresent aspect. Earlier in my career I changed shifts every three months and then the frequency was changed to every four months. Working weekends, holidays, being called-out for emergencies, missing school events and other special family events, all take their toll on the family accord. My present rank and position afford me greater flexibility without shift work, but the bulk of the sworn officers at DCSO work shifts.

When your children are young, they enjoy the attention they receive because their dad or mom is a cop, but about middle school age, they often become hard-pressed to tell their friends that their parent is a cop.

Certainly, the possibility of being injured is ever-present in the family unit. In the past two years Douglas County has had three officers shot in the line of duty and many, many more injured as a result of being physically attacked. I continue to make it a point to tell whoever is at home when I leave for work that I love them, just in case anything should happen.

I have been fortunate to have such an understanding wife and supportive family. Our two sons, Denton and Cory, are grown now starting their own families and careers. Our daughter, Katie, will attend Pau Wa Lu Middle School this fall.

Q. Anything else you can think of?

A. I have been on the SWAT Team for 22 years, working up to Team Commander, my current role on the team.

During the Service Recognition portion of the County Commission Meeting on June 7, Commission Chairman Doug Johnson called me up and read the 25-year plague inscription.

After speaking and while backing out into the hallway, commissioner Kelly Kite spoke into the microphone announcing something to the effect that, "...you may not be aware, but if my information is correct, Captain Orr is a Vietnam veteran, fought during the Tet Offensive of 1968, and survived the Siege of Khe Sanh..."

This brought a standing ovation from the packed room, including the commissioners that lasted for about five minutes, it seemed. I was proud, grateful for the recognition, stunned, and overwhelmed by their genuine demonstration of appreciation. When I finally escaped to the hallway many people, some known to me and others not, shook my hand and thanked me. It was quite a moment that I will always remember and cherish. During this time Commissioner McDermitt left the bench and came up to me and handed me a Carson Valley Days button stating it was appropriate for me to have it as this year's theme was "supporting our troops."

I, like so many other Douglas County residents, am a veteran of a war from 40 years ago and to receive this sign of sincere support for mine and all Vietnam veterans' sacrifices was so gratifying to me.