State panel told of Metro efforts to fight terrorists

Friday, Feb. 8, 2002 | 9:52 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Metro Police vice and gang officers have been transferred to intelligence details to guard against the threat of terrorism in Southern Nevada, a deputy chief said Thursday.

Bill Young, deputy chief of the special operations division, told the Homeland Security Committee in Carson City that Southern Nevada is considered nationally in the "mid- to high range for a target" of terrorism. Coastal cities would be the biggest targets, he said.

About 250,000 tourists visit Las Vegas on a weekend, and the "lifestyle in Las Vegas is opposed by (terrorists)," Young said.

"If one of these kooks come to Las Vegas and takes down a Strip hotel, we're out of business," Young said.

The police force, he said, wasn't equipped to deal with terrorists when they struck on Sept. 11, he said.

"We had to stop and shift gears," Young said.

He said officers now conduct daily surveillance on people "we believe may do harm."

Bob Pike, chief of investigations for the state attorney general's office, said captured al-Qaida film shows training on how to attack golf courses with mobile rocket launchers.

Last summer Pike said three water tanks in rural Nevada were damaged and hundreds of thousands of gallons were lost. At first it was believed that juvenile vandals were responsible. But now, he said, he's not sure.

Pike also said that "cyberterrorism can paralyze the country," and that threat must be considered.

Young told about 50 people at the meeting that the only way to prevent such crimes was with good information. He said the FBI and local police officials are sharing information, sometimes the local agencies don't know enough.

When the Bush administration issues a warning that there may be a terrorist attack, Young said, his department gets 4,000 to 5,000 calls from worried residents.

"We don't know what to tell the people," he said.

Local law enforcement is not informed where attacks might be aimed or what form they may take.

Young said Sheriff Jerry Keller has talked to national officials, including Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge, to seek more sharing of information.

"We will have some idea what threat is taking place," he said.

The security committee decided to teleconference its future meetings so those from Las Vegas will be able to participate without coming to Carson City."