Sparks Police

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Sparks Police

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The official page of the Sparks Police Department in Sparks, Nevada.

The Sparks Police Department consistently demands the highest level of professionalism from its employees. We maintain that employee contact with the public should inspire respect and generate cooperation and approval from the public we serve. The Sparks Police Department is comprised of 152 full time employees that include 109 sworn and 43 civilian personnel. The Department also has over 50 citizen volunteers that assist with the daily activities of the department in all four divisions. The Chief of Police oversees the Police Department operations, comprised of four divisions: Administration, Detective, Patrol and the Records Division. A Division Commander/Manger oversees each of the four divisions. The Sparks Police Department formally adopted “ComStat” as a department crime solving model. The Sparks Police Department believes we should aggressively track and solve crime or criminal activity. Each week members of each Division meet to develop a response strategy to address the latest crime trends within the City. The Sparks Police Department also participates in regional law enforcement efforts. These efforts include the Regional Gang Unit, the Repeat Offender Program, the Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy, the Regional Street Enforcement Team, DEA taskforce, Regional S*x Offender Notification Unit, Truckee Meadows Citizens Police Academy and the Consolidated Bomb Squad. The Sparks Police Departments motto is “Where Community Comes First,” placing an emphasis on our community involvement. The Sparks Police Department promotes community programs such as the Neighborhood Watch program, the Kids to Seniors Korner and the ALERT program. The Sparks Police Department takes pride in serving our community.

10/23/2026

On October 22, 2026, the Storey County Sheriff's Office collaborated with the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, and Nevada State Police for week 5 of the I-80 and USA Parkway Traffic Safety Operation.

The goal of this coordinated effort was to improve roadway safety, address dangerous driving behaviors, and help prevent crashes.

Here are the results of the operation:

Total Traffic Stops: 145
Total Citations Issued: 115
Total arrests: 1
Crash Investigations: 1

Thank you to our law enforcement partners for working together to keep our roads safe.

Drive safe and responsibly Nevada!

10/22/2026

In August 2026, Sparks Police Officers with the Follow Up and Special Enforcement team began receiving reports of an individual targeting department stores in Reno and Sparks, stealing large quantities of similar items. During the investigation, officers identified over a dozen stores that had been victimized with an estimated loss of over $4000.

In August, Sparks Police Officers located the suspect, later identified as 46-year-old Reno resident Steve Freitas, and attempted a traffic stop. Freitas fled from officers in a vehicle at a high rate of speed and the pursuit was discontinued.

On Wednesday October 14, 2026, Sparks Police Officers with the assistance of the Regional Crime Suppression Unit, located Freitas and he was arrested without incident.

Freitas was charged with the following:

-Organized Retail Theft

-Grand Larceny

-Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny

-Petit Larceny

-Felony Eluding

-Battery

-Obstructing

-Possession of a Controlled Substance

-Failure to Appear, Misdemeanor Crime

-Violation of Conditions of Parole

Any additional victims are encouraged to contact Sparks Police.

The Sparks Police Department, along with the Sparks City Attorney’s Office and the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, has zero tolerance for retail theft and will continue to apprehend and prosecute shoplifters in the City of Sparks.

10/20/2026

On October 20, 2026, at approximately 12:28 p.m., Sparks Police officers responded to the area of H Street and 12th Street for the report of vehicles ramming each other and one of the subjects involved was armed with a fi***rm.

When officers arrived, they located several subjects in the roadway yelling at each other. All the subjects were detained for further investigation. During the investigation officers located a fi***rm, which was reported stolen. A 34-year-old Reno resident was arrested and charged with Possession of Stolen Property - Fi***rm.

10/19/2026

On October 19, 2026, at approximately 12:39 a.m., Sparks Police officers responded to the area of Veterans Parkway and E. Greg Street following a 911 call from a teenage female. The juvenile caller reported that her father had shot her mother while they were driving in the area. She further advised dispatchers that she was still inside the vehicle and that her mother was critically injured.

The suspect has been identified as Richard Avalos-Flores, and the victim has been identified as Lorea Angulo. The identity of the juvenile female is being withheld.

At approximately 12:47 a.m., Sparks Police officers located the suspect vehicle traveling on Los Altos Parkway. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Avalos-Flores refused to comply and fled the scene. Officers initiated a pursuit, which moved onto Pyramid Highway. Once on Pyramid Highway officers successfully executed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) to bring the vehicle to a stop.

Once stopped, Avalos-Flores ignored repeated officer commands and subsequently suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound while inside the vehicle. Officers immediately approached the vehicle and successfully removed the juvenile female, who was physically unharmed.

Upon securing the vehicle, officers located Lorea Angulo, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Officers immediately rendered emergency medical aid to both individuals. Avalos-Flores was pronounced deceased at the scene. Angulo was transported to an area hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

Sparks Police Department Detectives have assumed control of the investigation.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Sparks Police Department Detectives or Secret Witness.

10/16/2026

Sparks Police is proud to announce the promotion of 2 Lieutenants, 2 Sergeants, 1 Police Records Supervisor, 1 Property Evidence Supervisor, and 1 Emergency Communications Supervisor 🎉

Lieutenant Butler has been with the Sparks Police Department for 18 years. He previously served with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office for a year.

Lieutenant Taylor has been with the Sparks Police Department for 10 years.

Sergeant Janning has been with the Sparks Department for 11 years. Prior to that, he served with the San Diego Police Department for 4 years. In his time with SPD, Sergeant Janning was a Regional Narcotics Detective, Academy Staff Officer, and SWAT Team Leader.

Sergeant Thompson has been with the Sparks Police Department for over 5 years. Prior to that, he served with the Clark County School District Police Department and State of Nevada Attorney General’s Office. In his time with SPD, Sergeant Thompson has been Crime Prevention Officer, Background Investigator and a Field Training Officer.

Police Records Supervisor Magdalena Hetnal has been with the Sparks Police Department for over 9 years. Prior to becoming supervisor, she was a Police Office Assistant.

Property Evidence Supervisor Stacey Sherdel has been with the Sparks Police Department for 8 years. Stacey has been a Police Officer Assistant and Evidence Technician.

Emergency Communications Supervisor Becca Ormsby has been with the Sparks Police Department for 8 years. Becca has been a dispatcher, dispatch trainer and has worked at other agencies as a dispatcher for an additional 8 years of experience.

Congratulations to all!

10/13/2026

See what your Sparks Police Department employees accomplished during the month of September.

10/12/2026

The Sparks Police Department is proud to recognize Officer Miller for volunteering her time at the 2026 Biggest Little Ultra at the Sparks Marina this past weekend.

In collaboration with Biggest Little Ultra, Officer Miller took ran for 24 hours to raise awareness of domestic violence and generate donations for Safe Embrace, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence.

We’re proud of Officer Miller for putting her community first and helping make a difference in the lives of others.

Sparks Police Department — Where Community Comes First.

10/09/2026

On October 7, 2026, the Sparks Police Department joined the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Storey County Sheriff’s Office, and Nevada State Police for the I-80 and USA Parkway Traffic Safety Operation.

The goal of this coordinated effort was to improve roadway safety, address dangerous driving behaviors, and help prevent crashes.

Here are the results of the operation:

Total Traffic Stops: 84
Total Citations Issued: 61
Crash Investigations: 4

Thank you to our law enforcement partners for working together to keep our roads safe.

Stay alert, drive responsibly, and stay safe!

10/07/2026

In honor of Love Should Be Sweet, Sparks Police Officer Miller, in collaboration with Biggest Little Ultra, will be running for 24 hours to raise awareness for domestic violence and fundraise for Safe Embrace.

Please cheer for Officer Miller by donating either a flat donation amount, or pledge to donate per lap completed to support the survivors in our care 💜

Donate per lap:
https://tinyurl.com/3hepyuns

Donate a flat amount:
https://www.safeembrace.org/donate

10/02/2026

The I-80/USA Parkway Traffic Safety Operation continues.
On Sept. 30, Nevada State Police Highway Patrol, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Storey County Sheriff’s Office and Sparks Police Department continued the regional effort focused on improving traffic flow and addressing dangerous driving behavior that puts motorists at risk and contributes to congestion.

Results from the Sept. 30 operation:
🚔 112 traffic stops
📝 89 citations
🚨 2 arrests

We all share the road. Drive Safe. Arrive Safe.

Address

1701 E Prater Way
Sparks, NV
89434

Telephone

+17753532299

Website

http://www.sparkspolice.com/

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