Las Vegas public‑safety report shows mixed trends in park arrests; deputies point to targeted patrols and mobile cameras

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on June 2 heard a report from Lieutenant Jonathan Burdett of the Department of Public Safety on arrests, citations and calls for service at city parks.

Burdett said the top five park locations year to date were Justice Levitt (98), Lorenzi (58), Gary Reis Freedom Park (49), Ethel Pearson (33) and Kellogg Zaire (33). He said the most frequent charges were “remain in park after hours,” unlawful presence in children’s parks, misuse of park amenities, lodging without consent and traffic‑speeding violations. Overall, Burdett reported arrests and citations were down 12.8% compared with the same period last year, with a large decline attributed to enforcement activity at Justice Levitt Park.

At the ward level Burdett listed differences in trends: Ward 1 showed an increase in arrests and citations (Rotary Park, Rainbow Family, Gary Dexter); Ward 2’s totals rose substantially—he tied a 122.9% increase to traffic enforcement around Kellogg’s Air and Angel Park; Ward 3’s year‑to‑date total was reported at 281 and showed a 36.1% decline attributed to concentrated enforcement; Wards 4–6 showed mixed increases and decreases tied to local patrol emphasis and traffic operations.

Commissioners asked about specific problems and tools. One commissioner reported utility‑box break‑ins at Knickerbocker Park and asked whether CenturyLink had secured equipment; Burdett offered to send additional officers for increased patrols. On mobile surveillance, Burdett said the department has trailer‑mounted camera systems it can request and deploy to bolster identification and evidence collection; the system is managed by DPS and staff said the parks department has purchased one trailer system to coordinate deployments.

On e‑bike and small‑motor rules, Burdett said that violations described as “failure to comply with regulations” generally refer to riding in trail or pedestrian areas where those vehicles are prohibited; he offered to provide more specific reports at the next meeting. Asked whether parks have posted speed limits, Burdett said parks default to 10 mph unless a different limit is posted and said he would confirm the postings and return with a definitive answer.

No formal action was taken. Burdett cited outreach events and seasonal programming—swim lessons, senior programs and upcoming resource fairs—that accompany enforcement efforts and encouraged continued collaboration with parks staff.

Next steps: Burdett offered to follow up with specific violation breakdowns and to confirm camera placements and speed‑limit postings for subsequent meetings.