Executive Director
Chris Collins  

Chris was hired by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in January 1984. For the first six years of his career, he worked in the Patrol Division assigned to the Southeast Area Command and Northwest Area Command. In February 1990, he transferred to S.W.A.T. where he spent 12 years. In January 2002 he transferred to the Detective Bureau, where he spent time in both Domestic Violence and Robbery. In August 2002 he was appointed as the Assistant Executive Director at the LVPPA.

In October 2006, Chris was elected to succeed Dave Kallas as Executive Director of the Association.

Assistant Executive Director
Thomas Reid  

Tom was hired as a Corrections Officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in July 1997. While at the Clark County Detention Center, Thomas became a member of the Special Emergency Response Team, a Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor. He was voted onto the Board of Directors of the LVPPA in 2000 and became an Executive Board Member in October 2004. Prior to being hired by LVMPD, Thomas was an Artillery Officer in the USMC. He is now in the USMC Reserves where he currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Assistant Executive Director
Mark Chaparian  

Mark has been a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 1991 and a United States Air Force veteran. He was a Field Training Officer for nine of his sixteen years in patrol.  Mark became involved with the Las Vegas Police Protective Association when he was appointed a position with the 2004 Collective Bargaining Unit.  Mark pursued his interest in serving when he was appointed as the Northwest Area Command Director in 2005.  In 2007, Mark was then appointed to the Executive Board as Secretary of the Association.  Mark was then asked to serve as the Assistant Executive Director in 2009, a position he holds today.  Additionally, he serves as a Trustee for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Employee Health and Welfare Trust and as a Trustee on the Employee Benefit Trust. 

Secretary
Paul Bigham  

I joined LVMPD in November 1985 after 6 years in the USAF. After the Academy I worked out of Southeast Area Command in Patrol.  I became an FTO while at Southeast for a couple of years. In 1991 I went to the Detective Bureau and worked Auto Theft Detail. From there I moved to the General Assignment Detail, which no longer exists. I then transferred into the Robbery Detail and after that to the Homicide Detail.  I left Homicide in January 2001 and transferred to the Traffic Detail. After working Traffic for 6 years I went to the Airport Bureau in July of 2007 where I stayed until coming to work for the LVPPA in February 2010.

Treasurer
Ken Lochner  

Ken was hired as a Corrections Officer for Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in January 2001. While at Clark County Detention Center, Ken achieved the level of Instructor in Firearms, CPR, NIC and First Aid. He also worked as a Corrections Field Training Office. Ken worked in both the STB and NTB Bureaus. Ken was voted onto the Board of Directors in October 2005 and then to the Executive Board in October 2007.

Director of Governmental Affairs
Michelle Jotz  

Michelle has been employed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 1993 and was promoted to police officer in March 1997. Michelle spent four years as a Patrol Officer, where she worked at Northwest and Southeast Area Commands. While at Southeast Area Command, she also worked as a Bike Patrol Officer on the Las Vegas Strip, in the Community Oriented Policing Office, and as a Field Training Officer. In 2001 Michelle transferred to the Special Investigations Section, where she spent more than four years assigned as a Detective.

Michelle was voted onto the Board of Directors of the Police Protective Association in 2001 as the Representative for the Special Operations Division. She was then appointed Secretary of the PPA on the Executive Board in September 2005, Assistant Executive Director in January 2007, and Director of Governmental Affairs in September 2009. Michelle was also the editor of the Vegas Beat Magazine for the LVPPA from inception to September 2009.

I have been employed with the LVMPD since 1992. I spent my first five years on graveyard until I transferred to day shift as an FTO in William area for one year. In 1998, I transferred to the Gang Unit as part of the first Enforcement Team. Two years later, I transferred to day shift as part of the investigative team who investigated shootings, stabbings and other violent gang-related crimes. After 9/11, I was recalled back to active duty in the United States Air Force and after 24 years of Service, I retired from the USAF in 2008. In 2007, I joined the Counter-Terrorism Unit, where I traveled to and lived in Washington, D.C., as a liaison for the LVMPD to the Department of Homeland Security’s National Operations Center.  I have been a Defensive Tactics Instructor for nearly my entire career and became a Firearms Instructor in 1998. I have been a Representative on the LVPPA Board since April 6, 2006. I spent the first year representing the Gang Unit and was appointed to an At-Large  position representing Counter Terrorism, ARMOR, Emergency Management and the Department’s DOC. In 2009 Chris Collins and the Executive Board asked me to join the team as a full-time representative in the position of Secretary.