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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department patch
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department badge
Common nameMetro · Metro PD
AbbreviationLVMPD
Motto"Partners with the community"
Agency overview
FormedJuly 1, 1973; 51 years ago (1973-07-01)
Preceding agencies
  • Las Vegas Police Department
  • Clark County Sheriff's Department
Employees5,819 (2018)
Annual budgetUS$856,312,417 (2018)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionClark County, Nevada, US
Size8,061 sq mi (20,878 km²)
Population2,204,079 (2017)
Legal jurisdictionClark County, Nevada, US (excluding the cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Mesquite)
Operational structure
Headquarters400 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sworn members4,109 (2018)
LVMPD Executive Staffs responsible
Facilities
Area Commands10
Airbases1
Detention Centers3
Marked and Unmarked Carsc. 2,000
Motorcyclesc. 160
Helicopters4
Boats3
Dogs42
Horses7
Website
lvmpd.com
[1][2]

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (also known as the LVMPD or Metro) is a combined city and county law enforcement agency for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is headed by the Sheriff of Clark County, who is publicly elected every four years. Sheriff Joe Lombardo has headed the department since January 5, 2015. The sheriff is the only elected head law enforcement officer within the county, and, as such, the department is not under the direct control of its jurisdictional cities, Clark County, or the State of Nevada.

Metro is the largest law enforcement agency in Nevada, and in 2009, was one of the largest police agencies in the United States according to Uniform Crime Reporting by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[3]

History

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) was formed on July 1, 1973, by merging the Las Vegas Police Department with the Clark County Sheriff's Department. Metro serves the city limits of Las Vegas and the unincorporated areas and towns of Clark County.

In the early 1970s, both the Las Vegas Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff's Department struggled with jurisdictional and budgetary problems. Oftentimes, people living in the metropolitan area would call the wrong agency to report crimes in progress, which would delay police response. Both agencies were also strapped for manpower, yet used a lot of it duplicating record-keeping and administrative functions in both of the agencies. The idea of consolidating the two law enforcement agencies into one metropolitan department began to circulate among the top officials in both agencies, likely due to the close working relationship between the Clark County Sheriff and the Las Vegas Police Chief at that time. It was said that even police officers on the Las Vegas Police Department could see that it would be better if the agency were run by the Sheriff, due to the fact that he was an elected official. Legislation to merge the Las Vegas Police Department with the Clark County Sheriff's Department was passed by the Nevada State Legislature, and the merger became effective in 1973.[4]

In 1999, an outside audit conducted by DMG-Maximus, commended the department for having fewer managers and supervisors than are typically found in large police agencies. The audit also said that the managers, both sworn and civilian, were of "excellent quality".[5]

On January 5, 2015, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officially assumed responsibility for the Las Vegas Township Constable's Office.[6] Las Vegas Township Constable's Office continues to be a separate entity but under Metro's detention services division.[7]

Metro has more than 5,800 members. Of these, over 2,900 are police officers of various ranks and over 750 are corrections officers of various ranks.

Radio system

LVMPD operated on a digital radio system (DesertSky), which was turned on in 2011. In 2010, the agency began a transition from the former analog system to this new digital radio system. The transition to DesertSky was very slow, and some analog frequencies remained for outside access after full utilization. DesertSky was LVMPD's nickname for official name of "OpenSky", developed by what is now Harris Corporation.

On October 11, 2012, after two years of battling dropped calls and dead zones in the department's new radio system, Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie opted to drop DesertSky. Sheriff Douglas Gillespie informed the CEO of the Harris Corp. that his company's Desert Sky radio system cannot meet his department's needs. The decision was a markedly sharp change from past statements and advice to officers to remain patient while system bugs were fixed. "I believe we've given Harris every opportunity to make the system work," Gillespie said. "It's just not a reliable system."

The decision to dump Desert Sky came in the midst of the Metropolitan Police Department's worst budget crisis ever. The county wide agency's projected budget of $502 million for fiscal year 2013–14 was $46 million more than projected revenues.

Police officials say hiring a vendor to build a replacement voice transmission system could cost $15 million to $20 million, and take 16 to 24 months.[8]

In 2014 the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stopped using Desert Sky Radio and converted to a Motorola radio system and gave the new system great praise for its ability to work with other jurisdictions and overall reliability.[9]

As of February 2018, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department encrypted their radio frequencies; blocking the public from using police scanners. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that the decision to encrypt their radio channels was made back in 2015 due to officer safety concerns. However, since the switch was made fairly soon after the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, some speculate that the change was inspired after the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's radio traffic of the event was recorded and released to the media.[10]

Vehicle fleet

Las Vegas Metro Ford Explorer Police Interceptor in Spring Valley

Las Vegas Metro uses many vehicles from brands including Ford, Jeep, Buick, and Chevrolet as marked or unmarked vehicles. However, after the retirement of the Ford Crown Victoria in 2011, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police went through a short session of testing vehicles. As a result, the Ford Explorer took the place of the Crown Victoria, the main patrol vehicle from 2013 to present day.

Headquarters

Construction was completed on LVMPD's 370,500-square-foot headquarters, located at 400 S. Martin L. King Boulevard, in mid 2011. The building consolidated 27 bureaus, which were previously located in leased buildings around Las Vegas. It also houses the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Police Records, and a Fingerprint Bureau annex.

Fallen officers

The LVMPD and the agencies that existed prior to consolidation to form the agency, the Clark County Sheriff's Office, and City of Las Vegas Police Department have had officers killed in action.

On February 22, 1978, Motorcycle Officer James Rogan was shot and killed by a suspect while making a traffic stop on Paradise Road. During the stop, the suspect suddenly shot him, and as Rogan laid on the ground, the suspect stood over him and fired several more shots into his body, killing him.

On March 18, 1979, Correctional Officer James Harbin was shot and killed while on his way to work when he interrupted a robbery at a local convenience store. As he entered the store, the clerk tried to warn him that a robbery was in progress. When the suspect saw Harbin in uniform he opened fire, thinking Harbin was a police officer. The suspect was apprehended after holding officers at bay for several hours.

On August 12, 1979, Officer Clark Wooldridge was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a report of a fight caused by a traffic crash. During the response, his patrol car collided with another vehicle, overturned, and became engulfed in flames. Another officer who was responding to the call was able to pull Wooldridge, who was unconscious, from the vehicle. The officer, along with the assistance of a citizen, carried him away from the burning car. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries two days later.

On October 11, 1988, Motorcycle Officer Marc Kahre was shot and killed while following a shooting suspect. While on patrol, Kahre spotted the suspect and began to follow him as he requested backup to make a traffic stop. Before backup could arrive, the suspect suddenly stopped and opened fire, striking Kahre in the head. At the same time, officer Jim Hulsey arrived and returned fire, striking the suspect five times, wounding him. The suspect was able to get back into his car and drive away. He crashed the vehicle a short time later and committed suicide.

On October 23, 1992, Officer Donald Weese was killed while responding to a call for help of an officer under fire. Weese was responding in code along with a trainee and entered an intersection. A vehicle, whose driver did not see Weese's cruiser, entered the intersection as well and broadsided the cruiser, causing it to spin into a light post. Weese was killed instantly and his trainee sustained other injuries. The rescue department had to use the Jaws-of-Life in order to free Weese's body from the wreckage.

On March 24, 1998, Officer Russell L. Peterson was killed while participating in a training exercise for the police department's Search and Rescue Team.

In 2006, Sergeant Henry Prendes became the first Metro officer in 18 years to be shot and killed in the line of duty; he was the 22nd law enforcement official to be killed on duty in Clark County since the City of Las Vegas was founded.[11]

In the early morning hours of May 7, 2009, Officer James "Jamie" Manor of Enterprise Area Command was driving in excess of 100 MPH without flashing lights or siren and killed as a result of a traffic collision while en route to a possible domestic violence call.[12] Officer Manor was the 23rd officer in Clark County to be killed in the line of duty.

On the night of October 7, 2009, Officer Milburn "Millie" Beitel and another officer in the passenger seat were both seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash. Beitel died the early morning hours of October 8, 2009, from his injuries.

On November 19, 2009, Officer Trevor Nettleton was shot to death in his garage after exchanging fire with three men in a botched robbery attempt. The department considered this death 'in the line of duty' as he drew his police weapon in defense of himself and family, and Nettleton was laid to rest with full police honors.

On November 21, 2009, Corrections Officer Daniel Leach, while on duty, was killed in a car accident near Searchlight, Nevada.

On July 22, 2013, Officer Dave Vanbuskirk died after falling during a night-time aerial rescue operation of a hiker on Mount Charleston. The hiker had become disoriented and was stranded on a rock ledge near Mary Jane Falls. A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter located the hiker and lowered Vanbuskirk to the location. Vanbuskirk, a member of the Search and Rescue Section, attached the hiker to the hoist. As the helicopter began to raise the two to the helicopter, Vanbuskirk became detached from the line and fell to his death in the canyon floor below.

Main article: 2014 Las Vegas shootings

On June 8, 2014, Officers Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck were ambushed while they were eating lunch at CiCi's Pizza by a male and female couple who entered the restaurant and shot the officers, yelling, "This is a revolution." They then took the officers' weapons and ammunition and went across the street to a Walmart store and opened fire, resulting in the death of an armed civilian, Joseph Wilcox, who attempted to stop the suspects. The male was shot and killed by arriving officers, while the female, who was injured, killed herself shortly afterward. Soldo and Beck were transported to the hospital where they were pronounced dead.[13] The suspects were identified as Jerad and Amanda Miller.[14]

Main article: 2017 Las Vegas shooting

On October 1, 2017, off-duty Officer Charleston Hartfield, also a sergeant first class with the Nevada Army National Guard, was attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival when a heavily armed gunman, Stephen Paddock, opened fire on the festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. Hartfield, who was joined by fellow National Guardsmen from Nellis Air Force Base attending the festival with him, attempted to protect as many guests as he could before he was mortally wounded by gunfire. Fellow LVMPD officers, including SWAT, entered the hotel and breached Paddock's hotel room, only to find him dead, having committed suicide before they entered. Additional Guardsmen from Nellis deployed from the base and traveled to Las Vegas to aid as best they could in treating victims and saving who they could alongside the medical staff at the various hospitals in the city.[15][16]

Funding

The department is funded by both the City of Las Vegas and Clark County. Funding is based on a complex formula that includes population, calls for service, and felony crimes in the prior year. Both governments must approve the annual budget including their percentage of budget. Additionally the department itself generates approximately 33% of its funds through property tax, and the charging for certain services, such as special events, work cards, and privileged license investigations. Additional funding is generated from a special sales tax to fund commissioned positions. By state law, the sheriff is charged with running the county jail, known as the Clark County Detention Center or CCDC, which is funded solely by the government and tax base of Clark County.

Organization

There are two commissioned career tracks in the LVMPD. They have identical civil service rank structures and pay, but different day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

  • Corrections: These officers are tasked with operating, managing and supervising the Clark County Detention Center: there are over 750.
    • Corrections Officer 690
    • Corrections Sergeant 66
    • Corrections Lieutenant 19
    • Corrections Captain 6
  • Police: These officers are assigned all over the department; there are over 2,700.
    • Police Officer 2,263
    • Police Sergeant 281
    • Police Lieutenant 74
    • Police Captain 22

Major patrol responsibilities are covered by bike patrols, motorcycle units and patrol cars assigned to the following units:

The LVMPD is divided into ten urban area commands:

  • Bolden (Sectors U and W)—serves the west central portion of the city, including the old westside, an area bordered by I-15, US 95, Jones and Lake Mead Boulevards.
  • Convention Center (Sector M)—serves the Las Vegas Strip and Las Vegas Convention Center areas.
  • Downtown (Sectors A, B and C)—this division serves Downtown Las Vegas and areas roughly east of Eastern Avenue, south of Owens Avenue and north of Sahara Avenue to include the Naked City and Fremont Street areas.
  • Northeast (Sectors F and G)—Sector F includes unincorporated areas of North Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Speedway/Nellis Air Force Base area.
  • Northwest (Sector X)—serves areas generally west of US 95 and north of Cheyenne Avenue.
  • Southeast (Sectors H, J and K)—serves areas east of Maryland Parkway and south of Sahara Avenue. Sector J includes unincorporated areas of Henderson.
  • Spring Valley (Sectors R and P)—serves areas west of Interstate 15, south of Charleston Boulevard and north of Flamingo Road. Also includes Chinatown.
  • Enterprise (Sectors O and S)—this area serves mostly the southwest valley west of I-15 and south of Flamingo Road.
  • South Central (Sectors I, N)—this area command serves the areas south of McCarran Airport between Interstate 15 and roughly Eastern Avenue.
  • Summerlin (Sector V)—this area command serves the master-planned community area of the western Las Vegas Valley.

When Metro was formed in 1973, the Las Vegas Valley was served by only three area commands: North, South and West.

Other major coverage details:

  • Traffic Bureau (all sectors)
  • Airport (Sector Q)
  • nine different rural areas outside the Las Vegas Valley including:

Rank structure

The LVMPD rank structure is as follows:

Title Insignia
Sheriff (rank of Colonel)
Undersheriff (rank of Lieutenant Colonel)
Assistant Sheriff
Deputy Chief
Captain/Corrections Captain
Lieutenant/Corrections Lieutenant
Sergeant/Corrections Sergeant
Police Officer/Corrections Officer No insignia

Enforcement areas

Persons arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department enter the criminal justice system at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas.

This department provides law enforcement services for all of Clark County, including the City of Las Vegas, yielding primary jurisdiction to the following agencies:

Community Policing Division

LVMPD provides law enforcement services to Nine Area Command Stations throughout Clark County Nevada :[17]

Each Area Command is commanded by a Captain and each Command is commanded by a Bureau Commander.

Structure

The LVMPD is led by the sheriff; second in command is the undersheriff, who is assisted by four assistant sheriffs. The Office of Intergovernmental Services, the Office of General Counsel, the Office of Public Information, the Office of Finance, The Police Employee Assistance Program (PEAP), and the Office of the Sheriff Executive Staff report to the undersheriff.

Four of the six elected Clark County sheriffs since the LVMPD was consolidated in 1973 are former members of either the Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) or Las Vegas Police Department (LVPD). Former Sheriffs Young and Gillespie are retired members of the LVMPD (that is they were commissioned solely as members of the LVMPD) Sheriff Gillespie rose to, and retired at, the appointed rank of undersheriff prior to assuming public office as the duly elected Sheriff of Clark County.

The ranks of undersheriff, assistant sheriff, and deputy chief are appointed from the highest civil service rank of captain. These positions serve at the pleasure of the sheriff and as such, if they lose the confidence of the person who holds that office, they can be returned to their civil service rank of captain if they choose not to simply retire. Division directors are civilian appointees that head divisions as would a deputy chief. Of additional note, at various points in the department's history the appointed rank of Commander has been used between the ranks of deputy chief and captain.

The undersheriff is second in command to the sheriff. The position is currently held by Undersheriff Kevin McMahill.

The Law Enforcement Services Group Assistant Sheriff oversees two divisions, each overseen by a deputy chief or division director. The divisions are: Technical Services Division (made up of the Criminalistics Bureau, Police Records Bureau, Fingerprint Bureau, and Logistics Bureau); Professional Standards Division (Office of Human Resources, Organizational Development Bureau, and the Internal Affairs Bureau). Additionally, the Information Technologies Bureau reports directly to the Assistant Sheriff.

The Law Enforcement Operations Group Assistant Sheriff oversees 2 divisions, both led by a deputy chief. The divisions are: Detention Services Division (made up of the DSD Records Bureau, South Tower Bureau, Central Booking Bureau, North Tower Bureau, Civil / Constable Bureau,[18] Administrative Operations Bureau, and the Staff Operations Bureau), and the Patrol Division (made up of the Downtown Area Command, Bolden Area Command, Northeast Area Command, Northwest Area Command, Enterprise Area Command, Convention Center Area Command, Southeast Area Command, and the South Central Area Command).

The Law Enforcement Investigations and Support Group Assistant Sheriff oversees two divisions, both led by a deputy chief. The divisions are: The Investigative Services Division (made up of the Robbery/Homicide Bureau, Crimes Against Youth/Family Bureau, Gang Crimes Bureau, and the Financial/Property Crimes Bureau), and the Special Operations Division (made up of the Airport Bureau, Communications Bureau, Support Operations Bureau, and the Traffic Bureau).

The Homeland Security Investigations and Support Group Assistant Sheriff oversees a single division. The Homeland Security Division is led by a deputy chief consists of the Southern Nevada Counterterrorism Center (SNCTC), Emergency Operations Bureau, Organized Crime Bureau, and the Vice/Narcotics Bureau.

Area commands and bureaus are typically led by captains. The captains in turn manage a staff of 1 to 4 lieutenants who in turn manage a staff of 4 or 5 sergeants. Sergeants typically supervise 6–12 police officers, corrections officers, or detectives and civilian support staff. Sections are typically led by lieutenants.

A typical substation or area command has a captain, three or four police lieutenants, sixteen police sergeants, and 130–150 police officers.[citation needed]

Volunteer program

The department maintains an active volunteer program called the Metro Volunteer Program or MVP. The program publishes a monthly newsletter available on the department web site. MVPs are used within the department in any area that is not law enforcement as the volunteers are not law enforcement officers.

The program was honored in 2011 as the winner for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Program by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.[19]

Training

LVMPD Recruit Training Academy

The LVMPD operates its own training academy—officially the LVMPD Recruit Training Academy, but referred to by members the department as "The Academy". Located at the Jerry Keller Training Facility, new recruits are required to attend a 28-week academy. This includes those who have attended another police academy. The academy is composed of senior police officers who are recognized experts in multiple fields,[according to whom?] including police academics, patrol tactics, procedure, defensive tactics, martial arts, physical fitness, and firearms skills. In addition to police academics, the recruits must successfully complete a basic Spanish language program which is taught throughout the academy training.

The LVMPD runs a separate academy for corrections officers located at North Valley Complex (NVC), near Nellis Air Force Base.[20]

Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP)

Upon successful completion of academy, the new officers' training continues during a 24-week Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP), during which new officer rides side-by-side with a certified Field Training Officer (FTO) who grades and evaluates the new officers.

The role of the FTO is also to train the new officer in real-world application of the skills learned at the academy in a student/master relationship. The new officer is assigned to a new FTO every three weeks for a total of eight FTOs over four 'phases' (6 weeks in each phase). The new officer must show a measured level of skill and competency to advance through the phases.

The final three weeks FTEP are 'solo' weeks in which the new officer rides by himself or herself for at least two shifts per week under the close scrutiny of his/her final FTO. At the successful completion of the FTEP program, the new officer is transferred to his/her first duty patrol squad and is officially a police officer.

It is one year from the day the recruit enters the academy to the day he or she completes training and is a solo police officer patrolling the street.

In-service / continued training and education

The LVMPD also places emphasis on its continuing training for its sworn police officers. LVMPD officers are required to attend quarterly firearms training and re-qualifications, quarterly defensive tactics training, a vigorous annual Advanced Officer Survival Tactics course, various required on-line classes per year.

One complete shift every two weeks is also dedicated for squad-level training. This does not include special skill or specialized unit specific mandated training. The LVMPD encourages its officers to attend as much training as is possible to learn new skills and stay current with cutting-edge law enforcement techniques and tactics.

The Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) takes place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Police officers complete their initial course of training for EVOC at the academy. Commissioned officers then must re-certify every two years during an additional 10-hour EVOC course.

Motorcycle officers must initially attend and pass a three-week police Motorcycle Riders Course. They then must re-certify every six months in order to continue operating a motorcycle for duty.

Citizen training

The department also operates two Citizen's Police Academies.[21] One of these is a regular academy and the second is a Spanish Citizen's Police Academy.

Specialized units

For individual unit specifics and detail see following section, "Specialized Unit Specifics."

Organizational Structure in place as of December 2011:

Detention Services Division (DSD)

  • Clark County Detention Center (commonly known as "CCDC" by officers)
  • Crime Stoppers - (702) 385-5555
  • Crisis Intervention Team
  • PEAP - Police Employee's Assistance Program
  • YES- Youth Education Services Detail (Formerly DARE)
  • Field Training Officer (FTO)
  • Homeland Security Division
    • Vice/Narcotics Bureau
    • Southern Nevada Counterterrorism Center (SNCTC)
      • Counter-Terrorism Section
      • Emergency Management
      • Technical Operations Section (Fusion Watch)
      • ANSEC (Analytical Section)
    • Emergency Operations Bureau
      • ARMOR Section ( CBRNE Response )
      • SWAT
        • Crisis Negotiation Team
        • Homeland Security Saturation Team (Dignitary Protection and Civil Disturbances)
      • Emergency Management
    • Organized Crime Bureau
      • Criminal Intelligence
      • Special Investigations
  • Investigative Services Division
    • Gangs/Vice Bureau
    • Homicide Sex Crimes Bureau
      • Homicide Section
      • Sexual Assault Detail
      • Sexual Abuse Detail
      • Abuse/Neglect Detail
    • Major Violators-Narcotics Bureau
      • Major Violators Section
        • Fugitive Detail
        • Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) Federal Task Force (FBI, LVMPD)
        • Repeat Offenders Program (ROP)
    • Theft Crimes Bureau
      • Robbery Section
    • Financial - Property Crimes Bureau
      • Auto Theft
      • VIPER
      • Firearms Section
      • Forgery Detail
      • Fraud Detail
      • Construction Theft
      • Missing Persons
  • Special Operations Division
    • Airport Bureau
    • Communications Bureau
    • Support Operations Bureau
      • Mobile Crime Saturation Team
      • Special Events Section
      • Air Support
      • Search and Rescue
      • Laughlin
      • Resident Officer Section
      • K-9
    • Traffic Bureau
  • Patrol Division
    • Northwest Area Command
    • Bolden Area Command
    • Downtown Area Command
    • Northeast Area Command
    • Enterprise Area Command
    • Spring Valley Area Command
    • Convention Center Area Command
      • Tourist Crimes Unit- Operates out of the Convention Center Area Command
      • Mounted police- Operates out of the Convention Center Area Command
    • South Central Area Command
    • Southeast Area Command
  • Professional Standards Division
    • Office of Human Resources
      • Metro Volunteer Program
    • Internal Affairs Bureau
    • Organizational Development Bureau
      • Firearms Range
      • EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course)
      • In-service Training
      • UMLV - Metro's Online training system
      • AOST (Advanced Officer Skills Training)
      • Academy
      • CIRT
      • Quality Assurance
  • Technical Services Division
    • Criminalistics Bureau (CSA a.k.a. CSI)
    • Police Records Bureau
    • Fingerprint Bureau
    • Logistics Bureau

Specialized unit specifics

SWAT

The LVMPD SWAT team is a nationally respected organization.[citation needed] The team, composed of nearly 40 operators, is one of a handful of full-time SWAT teams in the country. The team's main objective is to save lives, victims as well as suspects. They are on the cutting edge on the use of a constantly changing array of less-lethal weapons and munitions. Team members are highly trained and work in no less than two-man cells. They are referred to as Zebra units and not called the 'Zebra Squadron' as it is asserted by the narrator on an often repeated cable documentary. However, their designated LVMPD call sign is Z, phonetically in the LVMPD alphabet- Zebra. The individual officers are denoted by their seniority in the unit. Therefore, Z1 (or Zebra 1) is the most senior operator and Z37 is the junior. This nomenclature applies to other units within the department as well. LVMPD SWAT conducts training both for LVMPD recruits and seasoned officers within the department plus visiting agencies from across the country as well as foreign police units. In any given year, they will respond to an average of 55 hostage incidents and execute over 365 high risk search warrants and/or arrest warrants. [citation needed] SWAT also provides dignitary protection for the President of the United States, the Vice President, visiting heads of state and other dignitaries during visits to the Las Vegas area.

Traffic

Also called "Motors", this is currently the largest of all Harley Davidson fleets in the country[citation needed] and has over 160 officers assigned. Traffic does specialized enforcement as dictated by the Office of the sheriff, on the freeways, main and secondary roads, and schools. Motors is responsible for the majority of the DUI arrests and citations written in Clark County. These units are called "Tom" units, with a 3-digit or 4-digit number (the first designating its shift, and the last two or three digits representing the officer's seniority). E.g. T3115 would be a swing shift (3) officer who is 115th in seniority within the unit.

K-9

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has one of the oldest continuously operating K-9 units in the United States. Currently, the LVMPD K-9 Detail has 21 officers (including three sergeants) and 21 Patrol Dogs, trained to locate human scent. These dogs search for suspects, lost victims, and evidence that suspects may have discarded. Seven are European bred German Shepherds, one Dutch Shepard, and 13 are Belgian Malinois' (Mal-in-waa). The LVMPD has 15 detection dogs, nine of the dogs are Narcotic Detector dogs which are trained to locate marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. The LVMPD uses hunting breeds such as Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers because of their high hunt and play drives. The LVMPD has six Explosive Detector Dogs used to locate many various types of explosives. In addition to the dogs assigned to K-9, the LVMPD has six other Narcotic Detector Dogs. Five of these dogs are assigned to the Narcotics Detail, Interdiction Team. They have one Springer Spaniel, and Black and Yellow Labradors. The sixth is assigned to the Resident Section, Laughlin and is a Black Labrador.

Fallen K-9 officers
K-9 Unit Partner(s)
Mars Explosives Dog Tom Moore
Ben Explosives Dog Duwayne Layton
Apollo Patrol Dog John Jenkins
Roscoe Narcotics Dog Scott Murray
Fred Patrol Dog DuWayne Layton
Rudy Patrol Dog Mel English and Darren Garness
Winston Narcotics Dog Eric Kerns and Danny Southwell
Breston Patrol Dog Steve Junge
Rudi Patrol Dog John Jenkins
Duke Narcotics Dog Mike Horn and Mike Blasko
Dak Patrol Dog Mike Horn and Mike Campbell
Danny Patrol Dog Frank Sorrentino
Clyde Explosives Dog Duwayne Layton and Jay Carlson
Cigan Patrol Dog Rory Tuggle
Buddy Patrol Dog John Jenkins
Ex Patrol Dog Pat Barry, Bob Hindi, and Robert Johnson
Laslo Patrol Dog Jay Carlson
Moss Explosives Dog Jay Carlson

Air Support Unit

The LVMPD Air Support Unit consists of nine helicopter pilots, 5 tactical flight officers and 4 FAA certified aircraft mechanics. All pilots are dual rated as both helicopter and airplane pilots. Together they have over 413 years of police experience and more than 73,000 flight hours. All pilots and tactical flight officers are police officers and must have been with LVMPD for 5 years before being eligible to join the Air Support Unit.

All aircraft maintenance is performed in-house to save taxpayer funds and increase efficiency and timely repairs.

The mission of the Air Support Unit is multifaceted with a primary duty of aerial support for patrol officers. The Air Support Unit aircraft patrol over 8,000 square miles including outlying and residential areas of Clark County. Additional duties include: covert aerial surveillance of suspects, search and rescue, transport flights, Presidential motorcade escorts, and maintenance of the mountain top radio repeater sights.

Pilot candidates undergo a rigorous training and selection process with a 75% non-passing rate. Airborne Police training is understood among Law Enforcement professionals to be the most intense and high-stress in the profession. To be considered, each candidate must earn their FAA private pilot certificate on their own time, off-duty and at their own expense. Candidates then compete with one another for selection in a tribunal-style interview. The Tactical Flight Officer training program must then be completed before department-provided flight training begins. TFO training lasts approximately six months, with three pass/fail phase checks. Flight training is at minimum 300 hours, with nine pass/fail phase checks and two FAA checkrides with an outside Designated Pilot Examiner, before a pilot is released to patrol duty.

The Air Support Unit's fleet consists of one Airbus H145, and three MD530Fs.The LVMPD Air Support Unit operates on patrol 17 hours a day, 7 days a week and flies 6,000 hours annually.

In 2008 the Air Support Unit responded to over 14,000 calls for service which included being directly involved in the capture and arrest of 782 suspects, the recovery of 392 stolen vehicles, and conducted 147 search and rescue missions. These numbers have steadily increased annually.

Search and Rescue

LVMPDSAR is one of the busiest units in the country. The LVMPD Search and Rescue Unit was formed in 1986 to provide a technical rescue service to the community of Las Vegas. The unit is on call 24 hours a day and responds to over 8,000 square miles of mountainous desert terrain and water ways in Clark County, Nevada. All members have completed extensive training in such skills as high angle rope rescue, helicopter operations, desert survival, tracking, land navigation, emergency medicine, and many others. The unit operates by combining several highly specialized groups to complete its mission. These groups including paid police officers, helicopter support, and more than 50 unpaid volunteers. The unit includes a mountain rescue team, K-9 tracking team, and a dive team. Police Officers assigned to SAR also serve as tactical medics for the LVMPD SWAT team. LVMPDSAR has been deployed outside Clark County on several occasions to assist other agencies. These deployments include the Gulf coast during Hurricane Katrina (2005), the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT (2002) and search and recovery operations in New York City after the September 11th terrorist attacks. LVMPDSAR has also assisted the United States military during search and rescue operations for downed pilots in the Nevada desert.

Resident Officers

The Resident Officer Section of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department covers all of the unincorporated outlying areas of Clark County, Nevada.

The title of "Resident Officer Section" was chosen due to the fact that officers actually reside within the outlying district of Clark County that they patrol.

With the exception of homicides and fatal traffic accidents, Resident Officers comprehensively handle every type of incident within their area of responsibility. This includes initial patrol response, crime scene processing, evidence collection, follow-up investigation, interview and interrogation, search warrants, and case submittals for prosecution. Also, due to the close proximity, officers frequently interact with members of Arizona and California law enforcement agencies within the tri-state area.

Each officer has also received specialized training, and maintains any required certification, for each of the following: AR-15 rifle, swift water rescue, breath instrument operation, special DUI testing, bike patrol, dash mounted radar, crime scene investigation, GPS navigation, and accident investigation. Many officers have also expanded their skills into several other specialties such as: crisis intervention, advanced first aid, CPR, Automatic Electronic Defibrillator, and advanced crime scene investigation.

Resident Officers also take on many additional responsibilities related to significant departmental affairs. Many of these obligations are distinctive to the mission of the unit, such as: DARE, Explorer Program Coordinator, Laughlin PIO, Safety Coordinator, Homeland Security Liaison, Special Events Coordinator, Emergency Management Intermediary, Tri-State Intelligence Association, Tri-State Investigator's Network, Training Coordinator, Laughlin Criminal Apprehension Team, MVP Coordinator, Community Relations Delegate, Outlaw Bikers Investigator's Association, and Vehicle Assignment and Maintenance Coordinator. Officers of the Resident Officer Unit are very active within the communities of their jurisdiction. They take part in numerous community events in on-duty, as well as off-duty, capacities. They have a close rapport with citizens, business owners and employees, civic leaders, and school staff members.

Equipment

Firearms policy

Firearms training takes place at the LVMPD's John T. Moran Firearms Training Facility, located near Nellis Air Force Base, and named for the department's second sheriff. The facility is used by numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. At the facility, recruits receive several weeks of firearms training during the academy. Commissioned police officers must attend firearms re-qualification four times a year. This re-qualification is for all firearms. The qualifications include known-distance targets and tactical courses of fire in both regular and low-light.

Officers can choose their sidearm from a list of semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Beretta, Colt, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Kimber, Para-Ordnance/Para USA, Ruger, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, CZ P Series, Springfield Armory, Steyr Mannlicher, Unertl, Walther, Wilson Combat, STI Staccato P. The preferred calibers are 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.[22] As of 2016, new academy recruits must qualify with an approved 9mm pistol.

Officers are also allowed to customize their sidearms with such as slide serrations, compensators, flared mag wells, etc. Officers can also install Red Dot Sights on their service pistols but only after they completed their FTEP Phase.

Pistols

Rifles

Non-lethal

Crowd control

Vehicles

Clark County Detention Center

Public entrance

The department operates the detention facility. It is used to house inmates arrested in their patrol area, with the exception of misdemeanors committed in the City of Las Vegas, which maintains its own jail. It also holds persons who are wanted for extradition to another jurisdiction, persons who are awaiting a bail hearing or trial, or those persons serving a sentence of 364 days or less.

The CCDC has been the subject of controversy surrounding the treatment of inmates by officers. The facility has been criticized for its violations of human rights, with a major focus on verbal and sexual abuse to inmates as well as the use of controversial spit mask restraint for resistive detainees during the booking process. There have been several instances of pre-trial detention lasting for years at a time.

Misconduct

Main article: Misconduct in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Since the late 1970s, more than 100 LVMPD officers and civilian employees have been implicated in documented instances of police misconduct and/or actual criminal activity, with numerous incidents resulting in lawsuit settlements in excess of a million dollars apiece. A later excessive force case was tried in Davis v. City of Las Vegas.

See also

References

  1. ^ "2018 Annual Report" (PDF). Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "History of the Department". Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  3. ^ "Uniform Crime Reporting: Police Employee Data". US Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2009. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ralph Lamb". February 7, 1999.
  5. ^ Zapler, Mike (March 11, 1999). "Police use of workforce draws praise". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  6. ^ "Clark County NV, "Las Vegas Constable" January, 2015". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "KTNV-ABC 13 Action News, "Las Vegas police department takes over constable's office" January 5, 2015". Archived from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  8. ^ "Las Vegas Review-Journal". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  9. ^ Urgent Communications, "Las Vegas Metro Police Department formally announces new radio network from Motorola Solutions" March 15, 2015
  10. ^ Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department[dead link‍]
  11. ^ Planas, Antonio (February 2, 2006). "Slain officer is 17th Southern Nevada law enforcement officer to die on duty since 1933". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
  12. ^ Mower, Lawrence (May 21, 2009). "DEADLY CRASH: Officer was driving 109". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  13. ^ "Suspected Las Vegas gunmen believed to be white supremacists who targeted police, report says". Fox News Channel. June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Las Vegas Cop-Killers Hated Government and Left Swastika on Body".
  15. ^ "Officer Down Memorial Page". October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  16. ^ "LAS VEGAS: Nellis AFB Service Members at Shooting Talk & Law Enforcement Lost One of Their Own". October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "Contact LVMPD." Las Vegas Police Department. Retrieved on September 21, 2019.
  18. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "IACP/Wilmington University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs". International Association of Chiefs of Police. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  20. ^ "Corrections Recruit Information Guide" (PDF). Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. February 2018. p. 21. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019. All newly-hired Corrections Recruits must complete their Academy, which includes firearms qualification, during probation. The Academy is conducted by the Department's training staff at the new North Valley Complex, located near Nellis Air Force Base. It does not require Recruits to "live in."
  21. ^ "CITIZEN'S POLICE ACADEMY". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
  22. ^ "LVMPD > Sections > Protect The City > Resource Library > Firearms Policy". Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ https://bracebuilt.com/modern-carbine-6/
  24. ^ https://bracebuilt.com/modern-carbine-6/
  25. ^ https://www.policemag.com/339597/smith-wesson-mp15-rifle
  26. ^ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/las-vegas-metropolitan-police-deploys-1604-taser-x26p-smart-weapons-300336148.html
  27. ^ https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-lrad-went-from-a-pirate-deterrent-to-a-police-crowd-control-tool
  28. ^ http://www.ipernity.com/doc/mike-fotoriff/36961862
  29. ^ http://www.policecararchives.org/nevada/clark.html
  30. ^ Las Vegas Sun, "Shakur's mother rips Metro Police," by Cathy Scott Archived September 13, 2012, at archive.today, February 5, 1997
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