Editorial: Metro is coming up with solid solutions

Friday, March 14, 2003 | 8:57 a.m.

In the area of Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards, violent crime began rising two years ago. Gang killings were becoming common. Under Sheriff Jerry Keller, plans were developed for opening a substation near the intersection on Stella Lake Street. Since the Larry C. Bolden Area Command Substation opened in November, area residents say they have noticed a drop in crime. As the Sun reported Wednesday, the rash of gang killings that terrorized the area in 2001 and 2002 has stopped. The presence of more than 100 Metro officers working out of the substation has a lot to do with that welcome development. It's an example of Metro Police recognizing a problem and being responsive.

The new sheriff, Bill Young, in recent days has responded to two other major problems affecting public safety. When he took over in January, the emergency call system was experiencing unacceptable delays because of a shortage of 911 dispatchers. He authorized overtime pay to ensure that there would be sufficient dispatchers during the line's busiest hours. And earlier this week he announced a plan that will train injured officers who have been assigned to light duty how to handle calls to the 311 line, which deals with non-emergencies. This will free up more civilian dispatchers to work the 911 lines. Additionally, he and a group of Metro officers rewrote the policy on police chases, instituting measures designed to protect innocent motorists. Still to come are changes to the department's use-of-force policy, which Young and other officers are studying.

Coming up with solutions to gang killings, backlogged 911 calls, police chases and the use-of-force policy shows the kind of leadership the Las Vegas community needs from its police department in a period of continuing rapid growth. We applaud the department's commendable efforts in these areas.