For David Papaleo, an ambassador for the Downtown Reno Partnership, troubled past drives him to help those in need

From 11 p.m. until sunrise, David Papaleo returns to the same Reno streets that were his home during the toughest moments of his life.

Alongside a partner, Papaleo patrols downtown Reno by car, looking for people in distress or mischief makers committing a crime. When the sun rises, Papaleo takes to the streets on foot to offer wellness checks, give rides and clean up trash.

Papaleo, who found himself homeless after relapsing on alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic, now works as an ambassador for the Downtown Reno Partnership, a nonprofit that aims to make downtown Reno safer and more vibrant. DRP recently expanded its ambassador program to include overnight teams to patrol downtown from 11 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. with the aim of deterring nefarious activities and assisting those in need. Read More