glitterpunkrealtor blog

Las Vegas Valley Security

August 15, 2024

Last month I attended a luncheon about Las Vegas valley safety where a panel of local law makers and law enforcers discussed our city and how the city is kept safe - for our civilians and tourists - from crime. The biggest take away of this event was: if you see something, say something because safety is only as strong as the community’s collaboration with law enforcement.

There was a clear conservative undertone to the LVMPD officer presenting at this event. I fancy myself an independent who tends to vote with Democrats but I keep company of all political ideologies in my life. I don’t carry ill will toward honest people, or dishonest people really. There are far better uses of my energy than being hateful and angry. With all that said, I’m so exhausted from the tired talking points touted without providing data to back it up.

Las Vegas sees over forty million tourists and visitors each year, and has a bustling local city life like any other metropolitan. I can acknowledge that the challenge is incredibly high when it comes to providing safety and politics can make it even more difficult for local law enforcement to build relationships with the civilians. However, I think that it should always be a priority of civil servants to build tight relationships with there locals regardless of the affluence of their neighborhood.

The presenter suggested that, in addition to the adage of ‘see something, say something’ practice, that civilians also need to be mindful of who they vote for in elections because the existing elected politicians were making our streets less safe due to decriminalizing traffic violations. Implying that dangerous traffic violations were now made legal, and therefore leading to more harm and fatalities. The first part of that statement, I am in full agreement with and if they had stopped there this post probably wouldn’t exist. But that latter portion of the statement was made thus making it a very non-neutral statement.

But the facts are that the same traffic violations are still illegal however, the punishment has been reduced. As someone who has received minor violations in the past for various reasons as a young person, I know that high and severe punishments don’t suddenly make people behave differently. All it does is potentially place folks into a criminal history doom-loop and/or cause crippling debt to the offender which encourages poverty. Here are the recent changes that were made to the punishment of minor violations: Las Vegas Civil Law Self-Help Center | 2023 Changes To Traffic Violations

I agree that the drivers in this city are aggressive, reckless and downright scary sometimes but I foresee there being little change occurring through tough punishment to those folks after they’ve already committed a violation. I much prefer to make changes that prevent drivers from being able to drive in a dangerous manner in the first place. It isn’t easy nor simple to create these types of policies nor am I naive enough to think that policies alone would make traffic violators behave well all of a sudden.

Additionally, I don’t see the police department actively reaching out in neighborhoods where the most violations occur to evangelize driving safety or reminding the public that the department is serving everyone, including those who feel left behind or forgotten. Building community means showing up for those most in need of services and helping them gain access to services they may need. But it definitely isn’t about severe punishment disproportionate to the crime committed. And this mindset definitely won’t encourage folks witnessing criminal behavior to collaborate with you in building safer communities when they think your political positions or views favor harshness and violence over compassion and support.

I will continue to support a strong, functional police force. We are in a lively city that requires civil servants who feel stable, supported and secure in their ability to do their jobs of enforcing the law. However, I will never support ever-increasing violence and punishment in response to minor, non-violent offenses. Let’s build community through more positive reinforcement, diverse types of response units, hosting community events and speaking about changes we don’t like in a truthful manner, where we challenge ideas with alternative solutions and not violent rhetoric.

In conclusion, I know that some people in LVMPD and other local police departments agree with my point of view, so here are some resources to see what the Vegas Valley law enforcement departments are up to -

What do you think? What have you seen in your neighborhood around the Las Vegas area? Do you feel good about reaching out to law enforcement if you have an issue?

Tell me about it online! @glitterpunkrealtor

I am a local Las Vegas real estate agent. If you are in the Las Vegas area and need real estate help, I’m happy to be of service! Send me a text to schedule an appointment today. Or you may book an appointment online here.