Report: Cites need for more officers

Greg Harman

Wednesday, July 19, 2000 | 10:50 a.m.

Lack of adequate staffing at the Henderson Police Department restricts the force from reacting to crimes after the fact and does not allow the needed resources to be devoted to crime prevention, an independent study has found.

The report by consulting firm Kirchhoff & Associates, presented to the Henderson City Council Tuesday night, detailed the many needs of the department.

"Reactive departments respond to one 911 call to the next, without having the time or opportunity to effectively deal with the sources of crime," the study says.

So it's not surprising that the primary recommendation of the study was for an increase in staff.

Though Henderson Police are operating below 1 officer per 1,000 residents -- 2.3 officers per 1,000 residents is the national average -- it has managed to remain an effective organization, Bill Kirchhoff told the council.

"All in all, you have a really solid, high-quality department," Kirchhoff said. "You're on the cusp of being one of the very, very best in the country."

The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority advocates two officers per 1,000 residents.

But 166 new officers and 41 civilians must be added in the next five years to keep up with Henderson's growth.

The need for more cops on the street did not come as news to the council members.

A 24-cents public safety tax initiative approved by the city council in June to be placed on the November ballot would add another 166 officers over a seven-year period.

The consultant's report also presented the need for the better utilization of the Green Valley substation, construction of a police training facility priced at $18.5 million and elimination of some administrative positions.

The report was received by the council with little discussion.