Since 1999, we’ve helped Nevada County thrive.
Our Board Of Directors
Buckley Armacher - President
Buckley Armacher discovered his passion for supporting first responders when he first volunteered with the Ophir Hill Fire Protection District in 1987. He was a volunteer firefighter for the next 12 years, and is currently Chairman of the fire district’s Board of Directors. One of his sons is a California Highway Patrol officer.
Buckley joined the Nevada County Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Council as an associate member in 2015 and was elected to the council’s Board of Directors in 2020.
Buckley and his wife Laura have owned and operated Budget Blinds in Grass Valley since 2003. Their successful business has allowed the couple to support dozens of community organizations and nonprofits.
Cameron Brady - Vice President & Attorney of Record
Cameron Brady is a local attorney who serves as General Counsel for select businesses throughout Northern California. As a third generation Nevada County native, Cameron is committed to being an active community member. Cameron is honored to serve the NCLFC and is dedicated to supporting the law enforcement and fire protection agencies in Nevada County.
Cameron holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco. Along with his law partner, Cameron was selected as the “Best Attorney” in Nevada County by the readers of The Union newspaper.
Deborah Wilder- Secretary
Deborah Wilder is an attorney and president of Contractor Compliance and Monitoring, Inc. a consulting company assisting agencies and contractors comply with prevailing wage requirements. She served 8 years on the Foster City Council 1997-2005 and 2 years as Mayor. She moved to Nevada County in 2008 and volunteers with many nonprofits in the community. She also serves on the board of the Interfaith Food Ministry. She and her husband are FEMA T-3 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) instructors.
David Jones - Treasurer
Information coming soon.
Jan Arbuckle - Board Member
Jan retired from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department after 18 years, where she served the community as a Deputy Sheriff and coordinated their PEER Support Program for over 15 years.
She served on the Nevada County Civil Grand Jury for two consecutive terms learning how local government operated and community issues such as public safety, homelessness and substance abuse. In February 2007, she was appointed to the Grass Valley City Council.
In 2018 she was elected as President of the League of California Cities and continues to serve on their Board of Directors. She is a founding member of the Women’s Caucus and continues to serve on their board of directors.
In March 2022, she was elected to serve as President of Women in Municipal Government. Later that year, she was elected to serve on the National League of Cities Board of Directors and currently serves as Chair of the Small Cities Council.
Mike Bratton - Board Member
A Nevada County resident since 1978, Mike Bratton is a respected businessman, community leader, and dedicated family man. He graduated from Chico State with a B.A. in Communications and Marketing before opening his State Farm Insurance Agency in 1984, earning national recognition for excellence.
In memory of his son, Mike’s family founded the Michael Bratton II Annual Turkey Trot, benefiting A New Day Counseling and youth programs. He also serves as President of A New Day, a faith-based, no-cost counseling center that has supported thousands.
A dedicated volunteer, Mike has led school organizations, coached youth sports, and played a key role in upgrading Nevada Union’s turf field. He is an active Rotarian, a Twin Cities Church member, and has been honored with multiple community awards for his service. Most importantly, he cherishes time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Tom Vallee - Board Member
Tom retired to Nevada County in 2016 after having served in the Fire Department for 37 years. He retired as Chief of the Ross Fire Department in Marin County. He holds a BA from the University of California Berkeley and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
He joined the Nevada County Law and Fire Council because of the commitment of the group to supporting first responders in Nevada County.
Norma Moore - Board Member
Norma Moore is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a certified life coach. She worked for Placer County for 10 years in Health and Human Services before retiring in 2016 and now has a private practice locally.
While working for Placer County, she collaborated with the community and governmental agencies in order to achieve goals. This is a hallmark on the NCLFC, working together to create better outcomes.
Norma moved up with her family in 1971, graduated from Nevada Union high school, then later graduated from CSU Chico. She is an active Rotarian, served as past president and has also served on the board of The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Sierra Foothills Branch.
Long-time residents will remember when Sam Strange was arrested and later convicted of murdering two teenage girls. Roiling at the criminal justice system, Strange’s mother and others launched a recall effort against the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, and Superior Court Judges. Enter Willard “Bill” Drown, who was asked to pull together community leaders to support those targeted by the recall. The group Drown assembled helped quash the recall efforts. Under Drown’s leadership, those same men and women decided to expand their support of public safety organizations. The Nevada County Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Council (NCLFC) was born.
“Our goal has always been to support law enforcement and firefighters so that no man or woman would lose their life because they didn’t have the right training or equipment,” said Drown, the NCLFC Founder. “I never want a man or woman down on my watch.” The nonprofit council declared its mission: “…to provide support and assistance to public law enforcement and fire protection agencies located in Nevada County by making a meaningful contribution to such agencies both in the form of better equipment and in support and furtherance of their programs and policies.”
In the years since its inception in 1999, the council has purchased or donated more than $1 million worth of equipment, support, and training for local first responders. The NCLFC has also donated thousands of dollars in scholarships to students pursuing degrees in law enforcement and fire protection, and sponsored dozens of community educational programs. The council conducts a variety of fun fundraisers each year, including its signature fundraising event, the Red Light Ball. The first Red Light Ball was organized by Keith and Jeanette Royal to celebrate Keith’s 1998 election as Nevada County’s 33rd sheriff. The fantastic bash on January 8, 1999 at the fairgrounds’ main exhibit hall saw more than 300 of Nevada County’s glitterati in attendance. The event was so popular, the Royals decided to make it an annual affair, and offered it to the newly-formed NCLFC. The council took the reins, and has organized the gala ever since. Other council fundraisers include an annual raffle for a week’s vacation in Maui. The drawing is broadcast live on KNCO-AM radio each spring. The council also hosts the “Nevada County Heroes Co-ed Softball Tournament” in late spring or early summer.
The council meets on the second Thursday of each month. An associate membership costs $50 annually, which includes an invitation to the yearly State of the County meeting in November at which law enforcement and fire protection agency leaders make detailed presentations.
By Lorraine Jewett
Special thanks to The Union
Willard “Bill” Drown founded the Nevada County Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Council in 1999.
During his lifetime (12/9/1942 – 3/27/2020), Bill financially supported and/or donated his time and expertise to more than two dozen nonprofit agencies. His foremost passion was enabling law enforcement and firefighting agencies with the equipment and training required to do their job and help keep our community safe.
