EASTERN IDAHO - The Blackfoot City Police Department, Bonneville County Sheriff, Idaho Department of Fish & Game, and the United States Department of Energy are proud to announce that five officers from eastern Idaho have been selected by the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command to help with the law enforcement efforts for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.
While all the officers are volunteering their time to work at the Olympics, they will be receiving valuable training that they will in turn bring back to their home departments.
- Gregory Austin, Blackfoot City Police
- Lisa Diamond, U.S. Department of Energy
- Mike Vorachek, Bonneville County Sheriff
- Gregg Losinski, Idaho Department of Fish & Game
- Greg Rix, Bonneville County Sheriff
The command created a Law Enforcement Volunteer (LEVOL) program to supplement Utah law enforcement personnel with out-of-state volunteers. This program uses certified law enforcement officers from around the United States to assist with Olympic venue policing and security.
The command saw a tremendous response to the call for volunteers. With more than 1,200 applications, it selected 500 of the candidates to travel to Utah in February. Each selected volunteer will be issued a winter uniform and an official Olympic police badge. They will also be provided housing, meals and training. Each volunteer agreed to arrange their own transportation to and from Utah for the Games.
"We are very pleased with the level of support we have felt from around the country," said Utah Public Safety Commissioner Robert L. Flowers, commander of the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command. "We couldn't do it without this involvement."
The Utah Olympic Public Safety Command is tasked with providing law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and emergency management operations for the 2002 Winter Games. The command consists of 20 local, state and federal agencies.
The Games take place February 8-24 in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas of Utah.
For information about the UOPSC & LEVOL program, contact Jennifer Whimpey, volunteer coordinator, (801) 257-2742, or Tamara Palmer, public information officer, (801) 257-2745.
