Police see drop in violent crimes

Eric Leake

Monday, Jan. 24, 2005 | 9:28 a.m.

There are times that North Las Vegas bartender Deanna Radabaugh feels safe enough to walk home after her night shift at Hank's Poo Bear Lounge.

"When I walk home, I'm never afraid of anything," Radabaugh said Thursday night with the bar's front door wide open to the city and night air.

"I haven't had any problems. Like I said, I've been here two and a half years." She tapped her knuckles against the bar, adding "knock on wood."

North Las Vegas Police announced Thursday that violent crime is down in the fast-growing city. The number of murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults per population has decreased by 31 percent over the past two years.

The city reported 1,057 violent crimes in 2004, down from 1,301 such crimes in 2002, according to data the city reported to the FBI. At the same time the city's population has grown to 162,508 residents in 2004, 24,817 more than two years prior.

"It's amazing to me. I think we're really on the right track in our police department and how we're dealing with people," said North Las Vegas Police spokesman Tim Bedwell.

He credited the drop in violent crime to a change in the department's mentality under police chief Mark Paresi. Police officers now act as more of a community resource, he said, focused on solving the problems that lead to crime.

"I think the North Las Vegas Police Department is looked at a lot more professionally than it has been in the past, is trusted more," Bedwell said.

He added that a drop in violent crime is making North Las Vegas a more attractive place to live, which fuels the city's growth while presenting unique challenges to police.

Bedwell did not have the latest figures to compare North Las Vegas crime rates to those of other local departments, but guessed that the city would see a greater decrease than any other as it has in years past.

"I would like to see the whole valley down," he said. "Anything that helps one part of the valley helps the whole valley."

North Las Vegas reported that overall crime rate has dropped 14 percent in two years. Murders were down 33 percent, rapes 12 percent, robbery 30 percent, and aggravated assault 33 percent, according to city numbers. The only increase was in auto theft, which was up 11 percent.

About a mile away from Police headquarters on Lake Mead Boulevard, Fiesta Supermarket Manager Khalid Zaman still is not completely at ease.

"I feel safe where I live in Summerlin, not here," Zaman said.

While greeting customers at the busy market and check-cashing business Thursday night, Zaman said he is glad to be so near the police.

"I wish they were right next door," he said. "People broke our water machine just to take $10 in quarters. People threw a brick through our window. If I put a camera outside they steal it."

Zaman said the stories of shootings at local businesses are frightful. So, too, are those of North Las Vegas pizza deliverers.

"A driver goes to make a delivery and there's somebody hiding in a dark corner with a gun," said the manager of a North Las Vegas pizza delivery restaurant. "It doesn't happen often but it does happen."

The manager asked that his name not be used. He said the threat of crime has influenced everything from where pizzas are delivered to whom he hires.

"The main thing I look for when hiring employees is street smarts," he said. "If something happened to somebody, I would hold myself responsible."

He said he has managed pizza delivery in North Las Vegas for 10 years. He said things do seem to be getting better, but added, "It is a rough side of town."