Chief Soto from Reno PD Honored for His Support of the Truckee Meadows Mayor’s Challenge

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020, Chief Jason Soto of the Reno Police Department,  was honored with the Chief’s Award from the 152nd Air Wing, Nevada Air National Guard.  Colonel Tom Funk, Colonel David Manson and Chief Master Sergeant Paul Bright awarded Chief Soto for his extraordinary leadership in supporting over 1,200 Airmen and women of the 152nd Air Wing. Chief Soto provided police officers to join and actively participate on the Mayor’s Challenge Team.  One of the Teams many initiative's supports the mental and physical well-being of our Air National Guard. 

 The 152nd Air Wing quickly tagged the special sub-group of the Mayors’ Challenge Team with the call name The Mayor’s Challenge “Resiliency Team”.  Police Officers, Keith Pleich,  and Scott Johnson active Team Members of the Truckee Meadows Mayor’s Challenge Team, To Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and their Families (SMVF). Both are veterans: Keith served in the Navy and Scott served in the U.S. Coast Guard.  Chief Soto supported both Keith and Scott traveling to Washington D.C. to attend the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA’s) Policy Academy and all the teams efforts to provide an overall evidenced-based comprehensive approach to fight against suicide among our military population.  The Chief continued the efforts of suicide prevention. Officer Keith Pleich is also an active Team Member on the SAMHSA Nevada Governor’s Challenge Team. 

The Resiliency Team had a profound effect on the Nevada Air National Guard, 152nd Air Wing.  Colonel Funk requested the help of NDVS to arrange the award ceremony held at the California Building in Reno. They honored the Extraordinary Support and Service the Reno Police Department contributed to the overall health and well-being to ensuring Airmen and Women were not only physically mission ready, but mentally mission ready! 

The Resiliency Team participated and supported Super Drill Weekend, Resiliency Tactical Pause, “Operation Mission Ready”, presented to the Air and Army Guard as well as Nellis Air Force Base on Vulnerability and Resiliency. 

To learn more about SAMHSA’s Mayor’s and Governor’s Challenge Team’s, visit our Suicide Prevention page to learn more about suicide prevention and how you can play a part in saving a life.