Young seeks funds to add officers

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

Sheriff Bill Young says the police response that was needed under the heightened terrorism alert for the New Year's period bolsters his argument that he needs another 400 police officers.

Instead of relying on general funding, the sheriff is seeking a ballot initiative to specify funds for Metro Police, perhaps from a property tax.

"I think the voters would support it if they understand the need," Young said on Tuesday's edition of "Face to Face" with host Jon Ralston appearing on Las Vegas Channels ONE an 19.

"The police department needs a stable, less politically charged method of funding," Young said.

The sheriff also said that the heightened terrorism alert level, to orange, had cost him sleep between Christmas and New Year's Day.

"It's something I don't take lightly," the sheriff said. "I haven't slept much the last two weeks because I care about this community."

Young said he took this orange alert more seriously.

Many communities, including Las Vegas, asked Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge not to raise the terrorist alert unless something concrete emerged, Young said.

"It did concern me they had that much information in their matrix to raise the alert level."

Las Vegas was mentioned in national media reports as a possible terrorist target, along with New York and Washington, D.C.

"It's certainly a concern when Las Vegas is three or four in al Qaida's sights," he said.

Large open air events on New Year's Day, such as New York's Times Square celebration and the Las Vegas Strip fireworks, were pinpointed based on intelligence information, Young said.

Las Vegas' skies were closed to small aircraft on New Year's while law enforcement helicopters prowled the skies above revelers' heads and backpacks were searched, both major changes since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Federal authorities also obtained registration lists and other information about guests from Las Vegas hotels from Dec. 22 through Jan. 1.

There was not enough specific information on a terrorist action to cancel the New Year's Eve spectacle on the Strip, he said.

"If we had a specific threat, I'd certainly tell the public," Young said.

"If we had information that they were going to take out a hotel during those fireworks, then we would have said cancel it," Young said.