Interview, Fireside Chat
Las Vegas is Becoming the SAFEST City in America
- The department targets reducing annual homicides to below 100 within the current year, contingent on first containing current crime rates for robberies and murders to create the capacity to address recidivism, mental health, and addiction.
- A strategic goal is to establish the "safest city" status by integrating community policing with advanced technologies, including "new 911 technology" (Prepared 911) designed to eliminate lag times of three to six minutes on critical calls.
- To enhance real-time intelligence, the department plans to deploy "pre-positioned" drones that launch automatically within 30 seconds to a minute following detection by ShotSpotter or Flock Safety, functioning as first responders in "hot calls" alongside uniformed officers.
- Future drone operations include utilizing glass-breaking and attic-entry capabilities for SWAT teams and conducting rooftop surveillance for sniper threats at large-scale events like Formula 1.
- Artificial Intelligence is expected to have a "tremendous impact" on body camera redaction, potentially eliminating a 12-person unit for manual scrubbing, and to process millions of cell tower numbers to generate automated suspect reports that speed up investigations.
- The department anticipates that the integration of ShotSpotter, Flock Safety, and drones will make crime "virtually impossible" in chronic persistent hot spots and eliminate unnecessary vehicle stops by confirming suspect identities before interaction.
- Technology deployment is projected to prevent officer-involved shootings of unarmed citizens by ensuring officers enter situations with accurate, real-time information rather than inaccurate descriptions.
- Social initiatives aim to break the cycle of recidivism by connecting released inmates with meaningful wage-paying jobs, with the belief that failing to secure employment and identification will cause individuals to return to prison.
- While major U.S. cities may adopt similar technologies, the department notes that widespread implementation is likely to be slower due to budgetary constraints and a lack of private citizens willing to fund initial investments.
- The organization expects that once technology catches on and demonstrates the ability to save lives, more municipalities will attract private funding, allowing the initial investment to yield long-term savings for further public safety solutions.