Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

North Las Vegans huddle on how to combat violent crime

Community Safety and Awareness Forum

Yasmina Chavez

North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, center, and North Las Vegas Police Chief Pamela Ojeda, right, look on as an attendee speaks during a community safety and awareness forum at the North Las Vegas City Hall, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018.

Community Safety and Awareness Forum

North Las Vegas Police Department Chief Pamela Ojeda answers an attendee's question during a community safety and awareness forum at the North Las Vegas City Hall, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. Launch slideshow »

Simply reacting to acts of violence like ones that recently victimized North Las Vegas youth may not be enough to address the core issues behind the incidents.

That was a theme during a community meeting Tuesday night at City Hall hosted by police, elected officials and representatives from various youth programs.

In a matter of a couple of weeks beginning in late October, the North Las Vegas community was left reeling from a string of shootings, including two in which gunmen opened fire into houses, wounding three children, one fatally.

Miscommunication last week led the public to attend a North Las Vegas Police traffic-oriented event thinking violent crime was going to be discussed.

That meeting turned contentious, according to reports.

This time around, in a fifth-floor room at the government building, the modest crowd listened attentively and politely asked questions afterward.

North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee and members of the City Council also attended.

Crime-fighting initiative

Recently appointed North Las Vegas Police Chief Pamela Ojeda outlined her agency’s newly implemented crime-fighting plan. She emphasized that the recent shootings weren't related and the suspects have either been arrested or identified.

The E.N.D. the Violence initiative is three-pronged: engaging community partners, an expansion of technology tools and increasing and rededicating police resources, Ojeda explained.

To address the third, some of the agency’s command has been restructured, officers who comprise a problem-solving unit have been dispatched in their full cop garb, and new recruits have hit the streets, with additional personnel slated to begin a police academy, Ojeda said.

On the technological front, police hope to implement portable street cameras and expand a gunshot detection system, Ojeda said.

In an attempt to replicate a Metro Police program, city police hope to create a network made of private citizens and business owners who have installed surveillance systems, Ojeda said. Registered systems can help police quickly identify crime scenes or fleeing suspects caught on camera.

The agency is in the process of applying for grants, Ojeda said.

Whether it’s parents snooping on their children’s social media accounts and school discipline records or community members reporting suspicious activity, the public plays a practical role in the first component of the initiative.

For that, the agency has launched internet literacy courses for parents, who are the first line of defense, Ojeda said. This is in addition to community organizations already addressing youth violence before it begins or escalates, either through recreation or programs for low-level offenders.

The Harbor, a juvenile assessment center that provides mentorship, counseling and behavioral therapy, has served about 5,000 kids since its inception two years ago, according to Tammy Malich, CCSD assistant superintendent.

It has a 96 percent success rate, meaning only 4 percent of youths who pass through the program continue to get into trouble.

School violence

School district police briefed the public on one measure the agency has taken to try to reduce violence. After an uptick of gun confiscations, 90 percent reported by fellow students, random checks have been implemented, acting-Capt. Roberto Morales said.

An 18-year-old North Las Vegas student was fatally shot on the edge of the Canyon Springs High School campus in September.

The school district's new SafeVoice app, in which possible threats or bullying can be reported, was touted.

Redefining gangs

Officials also explained modern gang trends and the difficulties encountered when combating them. Members of criminal satellites, now known as "movements" or "posses," aren't easily identifiable like, say, the Crips or the Bloods.

Their loyalty is fluid and they're no longer faithful to territory or colors. They can easily turn on each other, and violence can erupt over petty social media arguments, Morales said.

Social media popularity is "their currency," CCSD Capt. Ken Young said. "It's more important than money."

Although only one of the shootings — when 11-year-old Angelina Erives was fatally shot at home by gunmen who targeted the wrong house on Nov. 1 — was gang-related, it's that topic that prompted the most questions.

Passionate attendees

"The mayor said that I can stand up," said state Sen. Pat Spearman. And she did.

"It takes a whole village to raise a child, and I'll add to that, it takes a whole child to raise another village," she said, noting that it will take "political will" and "intestinal fortitude" to address the issues that lead youths into a life of crime.

“We have to show our children that we care and that they’re more than just a statistical dot on a data point. We have to show them that we care,” Spearman said. "We need to buckle down and address the root cause — if we’re not ready to do that we might as well say benediction and go home.”

“I just want to thank my Senator Spearman for those words,” said Erik Huey, a retired CCSD teacher and founder of the Clark County School Watch blog.

He'd been disappointed during last week's meeting, he said, but appreciates the effort put forth, and committed himself to the cause. “We’re here to help you do what we need to do to get this done and take our community back.”

Afterward, he chatted with a North Las Vegas Police officer. "I appreciate your passion. I appreciate you coming," the officer told Huey.