Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Help Metro in its war on crime

METRO Police's blue line has been getting thinner as population and crime increase with each passing year. Now it's time for residents to pitch in and help.

Metro has been trying to keep the lid on the rising crime rate with a stagnant manpower level for the past eight years. Since the population has nearly doubled in that time, it's impossible for Metro officers to keep up with calls for service. The community has been ranked 63rd in the nation in reported crimes by the FBI and without more officers, that ranking will deteriorate.

Disgruntled residents who have fumed at officers for being late to a call don't understand there's a long waiting list in front of them. It's not that the police don't care. It's that other calls, often emergencies, take precedence.

And that's the fault of too few police in a community with increasing violence.

Sheriff Jerry Keller will be adding 100 officers to his force this year, thanks to a 16 percent budget increase. But the department is so far behind, those officers will hardly be noticeable. Metro trails other departments of its size, with 1.6 officers per 1,000 population. The national average is 2.9 officers. That means for Metro to perform its job properly, its 1,300-officer force should be doubled.

It should be remembered that it takes five new officers to keep one officer on the street at all times. The officers also must be trained in police and legal procedures, and be reasonably equipped to perform their jobs. It takes considerable time to convert a recruit into an effective officer. One cannot pass a bond issue and immediately increase law enforcement. That makes planning vital for police departments.

Metro's estimates of crime growth show an additional 750 officers will be needed by the year 2005. There's no feasible way to achieve that goal without taxpayer assistance.

That's why Keller will ask for a modest bond issue in November to give his department $28 million to hire an additional 450 officers. The bond would cost property owners 20 cents more per $100 of assessed valuation, or about $70 a year on a $100,000 home.

That may not guarantee that law enforcement will become noticeably more responsive, but it will help the services from deteriorating even further. With 5,000 people a month moving into Clark County, law enforcement often takes the brunt of the impact.

Three years ago, residents turned down bond questions on jail expansion and increasing Metro's manpower, in what was seen as a pocketbook issue, not a criticism of local law enforcement.

Since then, the department has been restructured to make the best use of existing manpower. But personnel shifts can only go so far. Metro is falling behind and desperately needs your help on Nov. 5.

Tell those officers you'll donate a few dollars to make their job easier and your life a little safer.

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