Jim retired in January, 2005 from the Reno Police Department with 26 years of service. Jim served in many aspects of Law Enforcement including the Patrol Division where he was a Field Training Officer, and Detective Division where he specialized in Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, Missing Persons, and Fraud. He served in the Traffic Division, investigating traffic accidents and motorcycle enforcement. He spent a decade in Crime Prevention, where he taught the DARE program and managed the DARE Unit, and was a Mentor to other officers in the area of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and Community Oriented Policing. He served as the senior officer of the Horse Mounted Unit and was the designated trainer for that unit. Jim was also an advisor to the Police Explorer Program, a local youth leadership training organization sponsored by the Reno Police Department. This organization worked with youth from age 12 to 21 and focused on building character, respect, and integrity; those qualities needed to serve in Law Enforcement.
In 1996, Jim was awarded the Dan Peterson Memorial Award for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. In 2000, Jim was named Nevada’s DARE Officer of the Year.
Outside of the Reno Police Department, Jim served as a Volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America , Little League Baseball, and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, for Washoe County District Court. He served on a number of boards including Child Assault Prevention, Nevada DARE Officers Association, and the Nevada Council for the Prevention of Domestic Violence through the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. He also served as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff on the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit.
Since his retirement from Law Enforcement, Jim and his wife, Michel have served as foster parents for several therapeutic-level children with special needs through Koinonia Foster Homes, a non-profit service provider. In June of 2008, Jim joined the team at John Yaryan Investigations, a full service private investigative firm, and serves as Business and Operations Manager. Jim and Michel reside in Sparks, Nevada, where they enjoy their four adult children and two grandchildren. Jim Overton Jim@jypi.com
Mike Allen, Investigator
Mike Allen, a sixth generation Nevadan, started his law enforcement career in 1984 with the Winnemucca Police Department. While with the Winnemucca Police Department, Mike worked patrol and investigations. Mike gained experience investigating traffic accidents, robberies, death investigations, homicides, child molestations, and variety of other cases.
In 1989, Mike was hired by the State of Nevada Division of Investigations where he specialized in narcotic investigations for 14 years with NDI. Mike was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1993 and led one of the States first surreptitious investigations in years, which resulted in the arrests of a major drug conspiracy organization. Mike has also gained invaluable experience in the area of major crime investigations, auto thefts, court testimony and officer involved incidents including; shootings, internal affairs, and other felonious crimes.
In 1999, Mike transferred and worked in the Reno/Tahoe/Carson City area. During his last six years of law enforcement, Mike was assigned to head up the State’s Intelligence Unit in this post 9/11 world. During this time, Mike provided the leadership to stand-up the States fusion center. Under his command, a statewide Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) and Critical Infrastructure program was developed which ensured participation and coordination of all law enforcement agencies, emergency managers, and first responders throughout the state. Mike also served on the State’s Homeland Security Working Group to determine the funding and budgeting of the State’s Homeland Security Grant award. In addition, Mike served on a Homeland Security Commission Sub-Committee for infrastructure protection. As the fusion center Director, Mike provided the leadership to establish and maintain partnerships with state, local, tribal, and federal agencies.
For the past 12 years Mike has resided in the Carson Valley where he has coached AAU & Douglas County Recreation Basketball, and coached Little League Baseball.
Mike joined the team of John Yaryan Investigations in June 2011 following a 27 year law enforcement career. Mike has a wide variety of law enforcement experience and has worked with numerous Sheriff’s, Chief’s, and District Attorneys throughout the state. Mike specializes in investigations in both urban and rural Nevada. mike@jypi.com
