Metro traffic officers can’t keep up with area’s growth

Jace Radke

Thursday, June 3, 1999 | 10:22 a.m.

Six new motorcycle officers are expected to help Metro Police's Traffic Division step up its enforcement, but the division will still have only 84 officers to keep an eye on the increasing numbers of valley drivers.

"Eighty-four officers may sound like a lot, but you have to remember they are spread out over seven days a week and 24 hours a day," Lt. John Thornton said. "Then there are sick days and vacations, and you can see how we can get spread pretty thin."

Wednesday's swing shift in the northwest and southwest area commands illustrate Thornton's point.

From 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. both commands had only six traffic officers on duty instead of the eight that Thornton's 10 squads try to put on the road.

"I'd like to have 100 officers so that each squad could have 10 officers on it," Thornton said.

The six new officers are due to complete their three weeks of field training on June 19 and will become a part of a group of officers people aren't usually happy to see in their rear-view mirror.

"Some people have had bad experiences with traffic officers, but we take our job seriously," Thornton said. "Even though people may not like getting a citation, it works to slow them down or to help them remember not to run a light the next time. It's been proven to be a deterrent, and it saves lives."

From 1978 to 1994 the traffic bureau had 52 officers, but since Sheriff Jerry Keller took office in 1995, 32 officers have been added.

The continuing need for more motor officers is easy to justify with the number of cars on Las Vegas streets, Thornton said.

"Since I started as a motor officer in 1978 I've seen this valley grow from a small town to a big city," Thornton said. "Every month about 100 roadway miles are added to this city and we get around 6,000 new residents a month. That translates to more cars and accidents."

Last year there were 108 fatal accidents and more than 40,000 auto related injuries in Metro's jurisdiction. So far this year there have been 40 fatalities, and that number usually picks up in the summer months, Thornton said.

Intersections such as Decatur Boulevard and Sahara Avenue have already produced high numbers of accidents this year. Sahara and Decatur ranks as the most accident-prone intersection, with 92.

Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard is second with 76, and Maryland Parkway and Sahara has totaled 67. Rainbow Boulevard and Sahara and Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway have totaled 65 apiece.

Traffic officers target these and other busy intersections, but also respond to other police calls and requests from residents reporting traffic violations on their streets.

Right now Metro has two academies running simultaneously, but none of those new recruits will move directly to traffic, department spokesman Steve Meriwether said.