Metro, FBI united in terrorist tracking

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001 | 9:39 a.m.

Relations between Metro Police and the FBI are at an all-time high, as both law enforcement agencies work hand-in-hand tracking the local movements of the terrorists in the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

The cordial ties are in stark contrast to the criticism the FBI is receiving from police officials across the country over its investigative methods and reluctance to share information in the massive terrorism investigation.

Recently, communications between the FBI and police in New York broke down over the anthrax scare, and the police chief in Portland, Maine, criticized the FBI for trying to intimidate his officers. Baltimore's police commissioner has gone as far as urging Congress to take a hard look at the FBI's relationship with local law enforcement agencies.

In Las Vegas, however, Metro Police officials are not complaining.

"We probably have the best relationship we've ever had with the FBI," said Deputy Chief Bill Young, who oversees Metro's Special Operations Division."We've been establishing better relations than most other agencies."

Young gives Grant Ashley, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office, most of the credit for the close relations.

"He's forthcoming and responsible, and he works with us," Young said. "He doesn't have the attitude that we're just locals and screw you."

Ashley said the FBI's relationship with Metro goes "beyond a partnership," and he praised Sheriff Jerry Keller and his top administrators.

"I feel very privileged to have a great professional relationship and friendship with the sheriff and some of his command staff," Ashley said. "It benefits all of the people we serve."

Ashley, who has a brother in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, understands the language of cops on the street.

He also knows that law enforcement agencies can protect the public much better if they work together.

"People don't lose sight of the mission here," he said. "I think we're pretty good out here of not letting any agendas interfere with what we're supposed to do."

John Plunkett, former supervisor of the FBI's organized crime squad in Las Vegas, said the key to the success of the FBI and Metro is the friendship between Ashley and Keller.

"They get along famously," said Plunkett, who now runs the state Taxicab Authority. "They talk with each other frequently, and they're very open with each other. They also trust each other."

Ashley said Keller and the police department have provided tremendous resources to the FBI over the past couple of years.

"They've said take whatever you need," he explained. "It's wonderful to have a relationship like this."

The FBI under Ashley's leadership also has reached out for Metro's help in the terrorism investigation, which so far has found that at least five of the suspected hijackers were in Las Vegas prior to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Since Sept. 11, two of Young's intelligence detectives have been working full time with FBI agents at the bureau's local command center. Both detectives have been sworn-in as deputy federal marshals.

And when the FBI needed help last month searching the Strip and downtown for people who might have seen the terrorists in Las Vegas, Metro's entire gang unit of 33 officers on duty that day participated.

The relationship hasn't been perfect.

Early in the investigation, FBI agents, not accustomed to talking to reporters, were said to be angered at police for disclosing some of the latest developments in the probe.

Their dissatisfaction found its way to Keller, who promptly issued a directive ordering all officers not to publicly discuss the investigation.

"We got past that, and we're moving on," Young said. "They asked us to let them be the voice of this investigation, and we're going to let them be it."

Young has nothing but praise for the FBI in its unprecedented terrorism probe.

"They're doing an outstanding job," he said. "They're not letting any stone go unturned. Every lead is getting reviewed and those that need follow-up are being followed up. They're pounding the streets."

And the FBI has kind words for the police.

"They're involved in pretty much everything we do," Las Vegas FBI spokesman Daron Borst said. "They been an asset to the investigation.

"Southern Nevada is lucky to have a police department like Metro. It's one of the finer departments in the country, if not the finest."

Borst said the department is well educated and trained.

"They have an enormous amount of resources," he said. "There are a lot of things they do better than anyone else in the country."

Most of the problems across the country between the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, Borst said, are the result of differences in investigative philosophies.

The FBI is obligated to conduct its inquiries in secret, while police have to deal with state laws that require them to provide information to the public, he said.

"FBI investigations are generally kept very quite until the prosecution stage when it comes out in court," Borst said. "They tend to be long-term and conducted without the subject knowing the investigation is ongoing."

Borst said the FBI has managed to keep secret most of the details of the Las Vegas investigation into the pre-attack whereabouts of the terrorists.

"We're not holding back anything as it relates to public safety," he said. "But as it relates to intelligence and the details of the activities (of the terrorists), there's no reason to make that public at this point. It would taint any prosecution."

What the FBI isn't worried about these days is a tainted relationship with Metro Police.