Pint-sized leaders take sheriff's department reins

Nine-year-olds don't generally run things, but on Friday, Minden's Allison Gaskill reigned over the Carson City Sheriff's Department with the title of Undersheriff for a Day.

"It was fun," she said, setting down a Styrofoam cup of peanut M&Ms and displaying her newly printed ID card with her name and title on it. "The best part was when we went to In-N-Out for lunch."

The real undersheriff, Steve Albertsen, played host to the pint-sized commander, taking her on patrol, showing her the dispatch center, and taking her into the jail control room.

There, Deputy John Fry showed Allison which buttons opened doors and answered the intercom. Before long she didn't need any more help.

"See, even a 9-year-old can do it," said Fry laughing.

The Jacks Valley fourth-grader said she isn't really interested in becoming a police officer. Her real dream is to be a professional golfer, a passion passed on to her by her parents.

She said she was only playing the part Friday because she'd won the opportunity during the Cops and Kids Open House in May.

Mia Vasquez, 14, of Carson City, won the raffle for Sheriff for a Day, for which Sheriff Ken Furlong played host.

She collected her prize Friday as well, and said the first command decision she tried to make was to "take a day off." It didn't work.

The girls were at the office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Halfway through the day, Albertsen took the three stars he wears on his collar and pinned them to Allison's.

"You can keep those, too," he told her.

He said he was impressed by Allison.

"She's a real smart gal," he said. "She asked a lot of good questions and it seemed like she really enjoyed herself."

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.