Northern Nevada C.O.P.S. Board Members

Jennifer Grant-Blount

President

My name is Jennifer Grant-Blount and I am the Immediate Past President of Northern Nevada COPS. I am the proud daughter of Deputy David Grant, EOW May 31, 2004. While responding Code 3 to a plane crash, a local utility worker failed to yield the right of way and hit my father's patrol vehicle. He died an hour later at our local hospital. My Dad was and still is my hero. I am grateful for this wonderful organization, where I can keep his name and legacy alive. He was a bear of a man, hard working, funny as hell, and had the best taste in music. He loved serving his community or anyone he came across who needed help or support. He worked many assignments during his 28 year career from patrol, motors, investigations, to undercover and coroner. I have so many memories of him that I carry with me everyday. I am a mother of two and wife of a Reno Police Sergeant. I am a country recording artist when I'm not rooting for my husband and kids during motocross races. I have a great obsession for dogs, and have four at home, SweetPea, Grizzly, Wicket, and Bandit.  I love to travel and spend time with my family.  Northern NV COPS holds a special place in my heart. I am grateful for the relationships that I have gained, as well as the support from our local business owners and law enforcement agencies. I look forward to continuing to work alongside this fantastic organization.

Jesse Watts

Vice President

Jesse Watts is the retired Coroner-Sheriff of Eureka County Sheriff's Office.
Jesse started his Law Enforcement career in Amity, Oregon, as a Police Cadet in 1998. Jesse served as a Cadet until 2006, when he was sworn in as a Police Officer with the City of Amity. Jesse came to Eureka County in 2013, when he was hired by Sheriff Ken Jones. Jesse served the community as a Deputy Sheriff, Deputy Coroner, Field Training Officer and Drug Recognition Expert. Jesse is the surviving co-worker of 13 fallen officers, most recently, Sergeant Ben Jenkins. 

Jesse loves to go fishing, hunting, side by side riding, spending time with his family during his spare time. Jesse is also the Executive Director of The Wounded Blue.


Ali Jones

Treasurer

I proudly serve as Treasurer for Northern Nevada C.O.P.S., supporting families and colleagues of fallen officers. I am the surviving co-worker of my dear friend, Pyramid Lake Police Officer Anthony Francone, EOW, August 25, 2023, who was killed while deploying stop sticks during a pursuit. His sacrifice continues to inspire my commitment to the law enforcement community. I also honor the memory of Deputy Jarett Oroszi, who passed away in 2022 from complications of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty.

My career with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office began in 2018 as a dispatcher, and I now serve as an Administrative Supervisor and Lead of the Peer Support Team, providing critical wellness support to staff.

Outside of work, I cherish time with my husband, our two children, and three dogs. It is my honor to serve in these roles and ensure survivors receive the care and resources they deserve.

Jodi Jenkins

Secretary

I am the surviving spouse of NHP Sergeant Ben Jenkins, End of Watch, March 27, 2020. I have served as the Secretary for Northern Nevada C.O.P.S. since 2024.  After Ben's passing, I was not prepared for the love and amount of support that my family and I received from a complete group of strangers. I am grateful for the opportunities we have been given, and I have attended retreats myself. I retired from the Nevada Division of Forestry after 33 years. I enjoy traveling and relaxing with my family. I am honored to pay it forward and help support other fallen families and co-workers as they try to pick up the pieces and move forward after such a tragic loss. I look forward to serving as your Secretary.


Ginger Howell

Chaplain

Chaplain Ginger Howell is currently serving as chaplain and peer support team member with Washoe County Sheriff's office. In the past, she was the volunteer chaplain coordinator for the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Houston Texas. She trained, mentored, and supervised 45 volunteer chaplains serving HCSO. The chaplains rode patrol, performed death notifications, visited deputies in the hospital, visited dispatchers weekly, and helped with funerals. Ginger also served on the CISM team for HCSO.

From 2014 to 2017 Ginger assisted in 6 coworker line of duty deaths; 4 from her agency, and 2 were from other agencies. On 9/27/19 she lost another close HCSO deputy friend, Sandeep Dhaliwal due to a LODD. 

 Chaplain Ginger became interested in C.O.P.S. after having the privilege of escorting Survivor families to Police week in 2015 and 2016. She saw first hand how C.O.P.S. retreats and programs bring healing to line of duty death survivor families and coworkers. She is honored to volunteer as Chaplain with the Northern Nevada C.O.P.S. chapter and attended Police Week again in 2020.

 Chaplain Ginger Howell is an ordained crisis and disaster response chaplain with IFOC, The International Fellowship of Chaplains . She is also trained in : Individual and group CISM, FEMA incident command, DMORT, psychological first aid, mental health first aid, and suicide prevention. She received her Mental Health Coach Certification from Light University in 2023. 

Taylor Winstead-Evans

Event Coordinator

Born and raised in Texas, I relocated to Reno almost five years ago for family. I am a small business owner of Battle Gritt Co., which I started in 2018 as a way to combine my unwavering support for First Responders, as well as designing. I have always been passionate about helping to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement. I am a mama of 2 boys, one with a complex heart condition, married to a Washoe County Deputy, and animal mama to a mini zoo!

Loren Ross

Trustee


Born and raised in Reno, NV, I began my career with the Reno Police Department as an Explorer in 1969 and was hired as a Cadet in 1973. Promoted to Police Officer in 1975 and Sergeant in 1986, I retired in 2002 as a Detective Sergeant. I was blessed to meet and marry an amazing woman, and we’ve now been married for 40 years, with 2 grown sons and one 9-year-old granddaughter.  I’ve been involved in volunteer work for my entire adult life in a wide variety of organizations, including Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, Washoe County Sheriff's Office HASTY Team Search & Rescue, and Scouting, to name a few. I also REALLY enjoy fishing! I’m a surviving coworker of Officers Jimmy Hoff, Keith Hashimoto, John Bohach, and Mike Scofield of the Reno Police Department, and Sgt. George Sullivan of the University of Nevada, Reno Police Department.


National COPS

573-346-4911