Clark County's First Female Captain
Helen Ann Moore was promoted to Captain on August 6, 1960 by Sheriff W. E. (Butch) Leypoldt and took command of the Sheriff's Civil Division. This led to a salary increase from $503 to $532 per month.
Ann (she hated the name Helen) was born on January 16, 1917, in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada, as Helen Ann McKechnie. She graduated from North Folk High School in Stone, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1934. She moved to Las Vegas in 1946, became a naturalized citizen of the United States and married Tom Chilimpis in 1963.
She was hired by the Clark County Recorder's Office on January 18, 1949, and was commissioned as a Deputy Sheriff on February 7, 1951. She rose through the ranks to Chief Civil Deputy before her eventual promotion to Captain. Here is a young Deputy Moore.
Ann is seen here in her early days in the Civil Division. She is in the center, and the head of the Division at that time, Perle Brown, is on the right. Notice their badges and autographs at the bottom.
She worked for Sheriffs Glen Jones, Butch Leypoldt and Ralp Lamb. Here is a picture of Ann with Sheriff Lamb and an unidentified gentleman.
Captain Chilimpis retired from the Clark County Sheriff's Office on October 1, 1969, after 20 years of service. Here is an article from the local newspaper showing Undersheriff Lloyd Bell presenting her with her retired Captain's badge. Upon her retirement, Lieutenant T. J Williams was placed in command of the Civil Division and Deputy Tex Gates took charge of the Business License Bureau.
A special thanks to Mr Jeff Gove, grandson of Ann Moore Chilimpis, for these photos and for bringing Captain Chilimpis to our attention. Your work and patience are very much appreciated by the Metropolitan Police Museum Association.
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