Rotary Log: March 1, 2012 (Detective Jones)
Our guest speaker, Chief Justice Linda S. Dalianis, was snow bound in the north country around Pittsburgh, NH so she was unable to address our Club on the second most snowiest day of the unusual winter season in the seacoast.
Fortunately, the roughly 36 hearty Rotarians who dared traveling to the meeting were introduced to Detective Rochelle L. Jones by Police Chief Ferland.
Ms. Jones, a seacoast native, is the latest addition to Portsmouth’s professional crime group that investigates various cases throughout the city. Rochelle focused on the multitude of scam situations she encounters. Typically, a friend, relative or care giver targets older people who feel isolated. Fraud investigations covering pension and social security checks are high on the list as well as identity theft and stolen credit card data. The lack of reporting these crimes results from the victims being ashamed or feeling alone in a senior living facility. Most victims are lovely people, affluent and well educated, yet many crimes go unreported making her job to investigate scams more difficult.
Having grown up in the seacoast with her own troubling issues, Rochelle feels strongly about serving the community she loves. After high school she joined the US Army, was appointed to the Military Police and served as a corrections officer at Ft. Levinworth, Kansas. Her passion for the area brought her back to the state corrections facility in Dover, NH as a prison guard. She would attend Hesser College studying criminal law where, coincidentally, Chief Ferland instructed the course she attended. Not long after, she told the Chief she “wanted to be a cop!” His recommendation of her led to joining the Portsmouth Police as a patrol officer and high school patrol counselor.
Rochelle’s outgoing nature and entertaining enthusiasm was pleasurable, and her no nonsense credentials (including the side arm she carried) reminded this writer of exploits seen on Criminal Minds and CSI.
Announcements: Tony Delyani announced there will be no “Funky Junk Yard Sale” this June due to the large and laborious commitment which yielded modest fund raising results last year.
The Group Study Exchange committee also needs host families for the upcoming group from Germany in early May.
District 7780 is holding a cycling fund raiser early this summer for Polio NOW. Rotarian cyclists are encouraged to join the District Team.
Download the website sponsorship guide