When will the Las Vegas Community demand better?

Editorial by Rick Singer

Although I have written on this subject prior to today the question of “when will the greater Las Vegas community demand more for themselves?’ continues to remain in the conversations of many residents throughout Clark County. As one man put it, (a 3^rd generation Clark County resident) “out of the ashes of what are currently Las Vegas needs to emerge a new Phoenix with leadership”.

When you or I or any resident of Greater Las Vegas or anyone observing Las Vegas from a far looks at the ridiculous standards in which our community continues to operate the scenario goes from beyond humorous to completely embarrassing. The levels of self-indulgence, narcissism and nepotism provided or empowered  by this communities leadership (if you can call this leadership) has excelled to the rate of incompetence, theft and abuse that could never be interpreted as maintaining any form of  ‘fiduciary responsibility”  to the citizens.  Just within the last 4 months, here are some highlights:

1. North Las Vegas judge places an order on North Las Vegas city council preventing further reduction of the city Police force because of the citizens rights to Public Safety have been compromised.
2. The son of a Clark County judge is found guilty for “grand theft” at local casinos and then given a minimal sentence.
3. Sun reporter is “encouraged” by a Judge not to write about a specific story that affects the cornerstone of Journalism and the community’s right to know.
4. The school systems of Nevada and in Clark County are nationally ranked amongst the WORST systems for education in the United States.
5. Pill Mill’s (distribution of Legal Narcotics via Pain clinics) has become so epidemic in the Las Vegas area that the number of arrests of Doctors within the community has gone over 19 in 8 months.
6. Unemployment remains between 13.5 and 13.7%. That means 1 out of every 8 people who were working a year ago is no longer working.
7. Metro’s Sheriff Gillespie and his new management team have determined that it is in the best interest of the public to  triple the building and facilities budget while asking Metro Officers  to reduce their incomes. The leader of Clark County Law enforcement has also decided not to add any new law enforcement academies. (I feel so much safer with that new building, don’t you?)
8. Public Safety has been compromised with multiple shootings taking place on the Vegas Strip; enhanced accosting by smut peddlers and children being both injured and killed attempting to cross the street.
9. Las Vegas property values have diminished at a rate faster than the National average (homes are worth 45% less than they were in 2007) in large part due to the number of foreclosures in Clark County. 
10. Why have the foreclosure rates been so high in Clark County? Because the procedures for “kicking people out of their homes” has been compromised, and oh, by the way, the suicides in which  law enforcement has witnessed in conjunction with foreclosures has increased and  is no longer uncommon.
11. Clark County Firefighters were systematically creating an embezzlement scheme by utilizing ‘loop-holes” in the Firefighters contract to be utilized for sick days.

The list can and probably should continue .. but I am becoming noxious thinking about it. The real question is simple; “when will the Clark County residents become sick and tired of being sold neon signage and a cheap cocktail as a substitute for real community leadership”?

1. Judges are bending rules; children of Judges’ are receiving minimal sentences for federal Crimes.
2. Doctors are going to Federal prisons for drug pushing of prescription narcotics.
3. Our Children are getting the worst education in the Nation
4. Public safety has been compromised, crime has increased and our kids cannot come home safe from a night of “Halloween”.
5. Tourists are concerned about safety on the strip with increased shootings and harassment by smut peddlers.
6. Law enforcement has a nice new building while citizens are being evicted from their homes without proper due process.
7. Firefighters and goodness knows how many other city and county employees are working a system to steal that much more money from the populist.

Is this really Las Vegas at its best? For the MILLIONS of dollars available to these departments and boards are you telling me this is the best result we can get for the community? The answer is obviously No! Many more communities with comparable populations and LESS money are providing more to their citizens.
The hard working people of Southern Nevada are great; the people they choose to represent them are the aliens.  Clark County residents need to begin looking within themselves, their own neighborhoods and friends. It really is time for new leadership at all levels of the City of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Clark County, the Board of Education, the Sheriff, and the Judges. We the people of Clark County need and deserve a new Phoenix with leadership.     

Police high-technology

Being a big science fiction fan and having law enforcement experience, I naturally watched the “Robocop” series, not for the acting but for the cool gadgets and wondered how long it would take for present day officers to get those types of toys.

Well, we are closer than you think.

Instead of ordering a plain-Jane, off-the-shelf car from one of the big three automakers and paying extra to have the vehicle outfitted with extra wires, lights, siren, prisoner compartments and such, Carbon Motors have come up with a prototype police vehicle, the E7, designed by police officers, that can be made to any specification the police need.  Options include; explosive detectors, armored doors and dashboards, and cameras.  The rest of the vehicle is equipped with police ready features such as custom colored fenders, so additional paint is not needed by the purchasing agencies to match their color schemes.  Performance is through a clean burning diesel engine that exceeds most of the patrol cars out there.  Life span would be approximately 3X’s that of current vehicles. (www.carbonmotors.com)

As long as we are talking about the patrol car, how about the “smart” system integrated into the car?

“Project 54” is a system that lets the officer control the electronics of the car by voice.  For example, the officer could have a license plate checked for wants and registration simply by saying the plate number out loud.  The computer would give a return, out loud, without the officer touching a keyboard or taking his/her eyes off the road.  When the officer initiates the car stop, a voice command turns on the emergency equipment and activates the video recording.  After the stop, the officer can check on the driver’s license and any wants/warrants the driver may have.  Currently, the system is in use in four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles also. (www.policeone.com).

More smart stuff?

How about a “Automatic License Plate Recognition” (ALPR) camera?

Cameras are mounted on the patrol vehicle, facing forward and to the sides.  The cameras send the pictures of the scanned license plates to a processor in the vehicle and checks them against known Amber Alerts, stolen vehicle and wants/warrants lists. Again, the officer doesn’t have to fiddle with a keyboard, or take eyes off the roadway.  This particular system is already in use and is slightly expensive at approximately $25,000.00 per unit.  www.avigilon.com

I would think the insurance industry would help forgo the costs on ALPR as it would help in recovery rates and reduce their payouts.

How about the crowd control scenario?

This is real Robocop stuff.

Officers equipped with this sleeve/glove combo have a digital display, 50,000 volts, shielding, HD camera, flashlight and customizable features. Officers can intimidate potential threats with a spark display and stun suspects with 50,000 volts if they come in contact with the officer.  Further upgrades could include “TASER” projectile probes, so the officer could “reach out and touch” someone. (policeone - bionic arm)

How about surveillance?  Our childhood fantasies have come true. 

The “microdrone”  is the police version of the military’s UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) without the weaponry (so far).  It can beam back video footage, in the day and night, flying almost silently overhead the bad guys.  It’s currently in use by the British Transport Police to catch metal thieves. One accessory is a “squirt gun” used to mark suspects for later identification.   Opponents to this $50,000.00 toy claim this is another “Big Brother” spying technique.  (microdrones.com)

Ever wished you had a cannon on your patrol car?  Your wish is about to come true.

Enter the “Starchase GPS Launcher”.   The mortar type barrel fires a shell resembling an artillery shell containing a GPS device and a sticky point that glues itself to the suspect’s car.  Police then can track the vehicle’s movements at their leisure.  (starchase)

Of course there are other advances involving ammunition, clothing, protective gear, knives, mini cameras and such and that would require a bit of time and research on the purchaser’s desires, but when looking at the best bang for the buck, these “toys” really make sense.

A car that is already equipped from the factory for police work and has 3X’s the life of a normal patrol car for a little more than the price already being paid.

A “handsfree” control system that doesn’t require the officer to be fumbling with a radio microphone, keyboard on a mounted computer, switching his overhead emergency lights on and off by hand; it enables he or she to focus on the job at hand, enhancing the officer’s safety.

An automatic license plate scanning system that requires hardly any effort from the officer.  Multiplies the output by 100 fold with results you cannot argue about.  Citizens would love the reduced time for recovering their stolen vehicles.  Fugitives could be located easier.  Missing children also.  Just by driving the patrol car down the street or alley.

A system worn like a glove, still giving the officer manual dexterity, protection, defense, recording ability and respect.

Since many police department do not like or prohibit vehicle pursuits, a system that allows an officer to “mark” a fleeing vehicle that could be easily tracked from a remote location and apprehended when the timing is appropriate.

Sure, they cost.  But what does it cost for a life?  A lawsuit?  Property Damage?  The initial cost would be worth it even in only one situation. 

It’s a shame that administrations only look at the initial costs, not long term.

Sheriff Gillespie.  Are you listening?  The links are listed for easy reference.