Las Vegas public-safety marshals report rise in park enforcement, outline new patrol and camera strategies

The Department of Public Safety reported to the City of Las Vegas Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Commission that it handled 847 calls for service in August and made about 324 arrests or citations during that month.

Rob Straube, assistant chief of the Department of Public Safety, told commissioners the department’s counts do not include perimeter checks, securing of facilities or out‑of‑vehicle checks. He said Ward 3 saw the highest volume with 282 calls and 126 citations or arrests; Ward 1 recorded 136 calls and 56 citations or arrests, with Rotary Park, Bob Baskin Park and Gary Dexter Park listed among the top sites. Ward 5 had 274 calls and 112 citations or arrests; Lorenze Park and Ethel Pearson Park were named among the most active sites.

Why it matters: the presentation laid out both enforcement numbers and the department’s effort to shift to more proactive, data-driven deployments, which affects how the city assigns marshals across parks and public facilities.

Straube described the department’s mix of units — patrol marshals, a motors team, a problem-oriented policing team, a conditions team that handles encampments and cleanups, a criminal investigations team and a civic team that staffs building entrances. He said the city’s marshals are category 1 peace officers and that the department works closely with Metro on violent‑crime responses.

“We are not a 9‑1‑1 agency,” Straube said, noting that partnership with Metro determines how violent crimes are handled. He said the department has “almost 200 plus sworn officers altogether between our corrections and our marshals.”

Straube described several technology and program initiatives: a fleet of trailer cameras (one temporarily out for service; another deployed to a lot for a potential protest), license‑plate reader integration with the city’s “flock” camera system, and an automatic computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) rollout that sends marshals to “hot spot” parks on a scheduled basis. He described the “Koper curve” model — short, frequent visits to hot spots — as a deterrence tactic and said the department will review data after one to two months to measure impact.

On caller guidance for medical emergencies in parks, Lieutenant Cheryl Manning advised contacting emergency services. “I would always say that you should always call 911 because it will divert the, information to the appropriate, department,” Straube added, explaining that 911 dispatch will notify fire and will also inform marshals when calls originate in parks.

Commissioners asked about the frequency of community‑oriented policing events, camera deployments to potential protests and how residents should report encampments. Straube said the camera deployed for a potential protest was not typical but can be used as an “asset” and deterrent; he directed residents to call 911 for emergencies and 311 or the department dispatch at (702) 229‑6444 for non‑emergency park matters. He also invited residents to attend ward meetings led by lieutenants and to participate in the department’s Citizens Police Academy, which recently began with about 30 participants.

The department provided a month‑to‑month comparison in the supplemental packet showing increases in arrests and citations year to date and described the recent increases as — in part — the result of targeted efforts to focus resources on parks and recreation centers.

The commission did not take policy action; the presentation was provided for information and questions.