Dual visit a challenge for LV law enforcement agencies

Jace Radke

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 9:42 a.m.

Local law enforcement officers planned to spend today shutting down intersections and racing ahead of the motorcades of President Bush and Sen. John Kerry as both candidates made campaign stops in Las Vegas within hours of each other.

Officers with Metro Police and troopers with the Nevada Highway Patrol couldn't remember ever having to manage two motorcades at the same time.

"We're definitely going to have our hands full, there are no ifs, ands or buts about that," said Highway Patrol Lt. Steve Cabrales, who is coordinating the president's motorcade. "We need everyone to pitch in on something like this and it's coming together pretty good."

Paul Masto, acting special agent in charge of the Las Vegas office of the Secret Service, called the dual visit a challenge.

"It's a big intensive event that takes a lot of manpower," Masto said via cell phone Wednesday as he supervised preparations for the candidates' arrival. "There's not a lot that overlaps (in terms of security for the visits) because the president has his itinerary and the senator has his itinerary.

"In the last 24 months we've probably had 60 official visits that we've had to work, but this is the busiest we've been."

Law enforcement agencies, which work with the Secret Service during candidate stops, would not -- for reasons of security -- reveal the numbers of officers to be used during the visits or the routes that will be traveled.

During previous visits by the president or a presidential candidate, more than 40 officers have been visible leading motorcades. In addition, a Metro helicopter has flown over motorcades in the past. In all, it's likely that more than 100 local officers will be involved in the visits.

Metro's gang unit has been working security outside of Las Vegas venues where the candidates have made appearances in the past, and the departments' problem solving units at each substation are also made available during visits.

"At any given time in Las Vegas there are any number of special events going on, from football games to shows and fights," Metro spokesman Sgt. Chris Jones said. "We have New Year's so we're used to gearing up for these kinds of things.

"It is kind of nice that since they are both visiting that they are doing it in the day time, so there is no conflict with anything we might have to cover at night."

Joining Metro and the Highway Patrol in helping with traffic and the motorcade escort will be officers from Henderson and North Las Vegas Police.

Perhaps the largest burden will fall on Metro's traffic section, which will be responsible for supplying the bulk of the motorcycle officers to lead the motorcades.

"I can't remember ever having two at once, and it will strain our resources," Metro traffic Lt. Wayne Petersen said. "We absolutely could not do it without the help of the other agencies."

Petersen said that traffic officers will be called in on an overtime basis to help with the visits.

Jones said that there will be enough officers to handle the visits, and to take the normal calls for service to Metro.

"We don't sacrifice one to do the other," Jones said. "We're able to pull from all our resources as needed for something like this."

Las Vegas residents will likely face some traffic delays as the candidates make their way to their destinations and the airport. Bush was scheduled to speak at the Thomas & Mack Center around 10 a.m., while Kerry was scheduled to speak at the AARP convention at the Sands Expo and Convention Center around 11:45 a.m.

Laura Bush was scheduled to speak at the AARP convention prior to Kerry about 10 a.m.

"There are going to be some traffic delays out there," Jones said. "People are just going to have to be patient and understanding."