Security tightened across valley

Jace Radke

Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.

Las Vegas authorities tightened security across the valley after President Bush issued an ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on Monday night.

The FBI, Metro Police, airport authorities and other officials went on heightened alert after the federal government moved the terrorist alert status up one level to orange, fearing potential terrorist attacks if the nation proceeds to war.

At Nellis Air Force Base the security remained at Bravo level, two levels below the highest alert stage, Delta.

More than 1,100 soldiers from Nellis are currently overseas, depleting the base of about an eighth of it's military personnel.

"Certainly the operations tempo has increased, but it really depends on what missions we have, and what units have had the most deployments," Maj. Vic Hines said.

Currently at Nellis there aren't many HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, because most were deployed with the 66th Rescue Squadron to Southwest Asia, which Afghanistan-Iraq region. The FBI is also gearing up because the nation appears to be on the eve of war, Special Agent Daron Borst said.

"Obviously things are picking up around here, and if we go to war, the office will be staffed 24 hours a day, with agents working 12-hour shifts," Borst said. "There is no specific information about possible attacks in Las Vegas, but the security level was raised to orange in light of the escalation of tensions around the world."

Metro Police Capt. Mike McClary, who leads the department's homeland security unit, said that Las Vegas is prepared for a terrorist attack, and added there haven't been any threats that would effect Las Vegas.

Henderson Police Chief Mike Mayberry said that local law enforcement officials remain in close contact.

"Sheriff (Bill) Young, North Las Vegas Chief (Mark) Paresi and I have all been in touch with each other and the FBI," Mayberry said. "There is no specific threat to Las Vegas, but the valley is still at a heightened state of alert."

In addition, police say that the large, sophisticated security forces at Las Vegas' resort hotels could be a deterrent to terrorist attacks. More than 7,000 private security officers work in Las Vegas hotels, and most are former law enforcement officers.

At Hoover Dam, security has also picked up with added surveillance of the water ways leading up to the dam and tighter checking of vehicles crossing the dam, Bureau of Reclamation spokesman Robert Walsh said.

Tours remain open at the facility, but long-haul commercial trucks and buses are still banned from crossing the dam.

Jim Blair, federal security chief, at McCarran International Airport, said the Transportation Security Administration has plans to increase security as needed.

"We have procedures that can be expanded, but I'm not going to get into exactly what we will do," Blair said. "Whether we're at yellow, orange or red, the checkpoint screening will remain the same.