LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The first Tuesday of October is National Night Out, a chance for the community to connect with law enforcement. There were events throughout the Vegas Valley. Metro was at several different locations including the Arts District, Town Square, East Las Vegas and Downtown Summerlin. North Las Vegas also hosted an event with people wanting to know more about local police.
FOX5’s also checked out the event in Henderson at Water Street Plaza where it was new Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader’s first National Night Out as chief. The best of the department and what makes Henderson one of the safest cities in the country was showcased.
“Subject in the white truck, exit the vehicle with nothing in with your hands!,” an officer demanded during a demonstration. It was a scenario a Henderson officer could face any day. A K9 was sent in to take the suspect down. “We’ve got six k9 handlers. They each have multi-purpose dogs. There’s a patrol dog that helps us sniff out and find bad guys… If there’s a subject fighting or with a weapon, they’re able to bite that individual, get him into custody and at the end of the day, it helps keep our officers safe, the public safe and the subject safe so we wouldn’t have to shoot that individual,” Chief Rader explained.
HPD also showed how their detector dogs can search vehicles. “They’re trained to detect if it might be some explosives and products… our four-legged friends really help us stay safe, keep the community safe,” Chief Rader contended.
While the most seasoned officers showed the departments abilities, the event was also a push to meet the community and recruit the next generation. “I’m very excited to say we have an academy that just started this last week. We have forty officers in that academy. It’s the largest academy we’ve ever had at Henderson. People are showing up wanting to do this job, but we’re actively recruiting,” Chief Rader reported.
Chief Rader told FOX5, when he started earlier this year there was a huge number in vacancies in HPD but in just a few months, that’s been cut in half. Currently, he still he has about 35 vacancies the fill.
Henderson’s Chief also says they are recruiting from other departments. Their lateral academy is getting ready to start. Learn more here.
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