Committee approves funds to purchase law enforcement equipment, train judges

June 19, 2008

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid hopes to soon deliver millions of dollars to Nevada law enforcement officials to purchase equipment for local police departments, fund DNA collection efforts, and provide resources for at-risk youth.

“Nevada’s law enforcement officers face enormous challenges every day, and I will always make sure they have the tools they need,” Reid said. “This bill funds equipment for officers on the beat, but it also invests in prevention programs and training for at-risk juvenile offenders.  If we address these problems at an early age, we can prevent crime in the future.”

Senator Reid and Senator John Ensign also included $800,000 for the Washoe County Sheriff’s office to outfit a DNA laboratory and pay for additional DNA processing.

“Like so many Nevadans, I was saddened by the loss of Brianna Denison, the young Reno lady abducted and murdered last winter,” Reid said.  “This bill will give our law enforcement officers additional tools they need to process DNA evidence and ensure that her killer and other serial killers are brought to justice.”

Additionally, Senator Reid gained access for Nevada to the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF).  This fund was created by Congress to protect and restore the natural habitat for Pacific salmon and steelhead fish.  Historically, salmon and steelhead trout populated many high desert streams in Nevada.  This designation will allow Nevada sportsmen to once again use Nevada’s rivers and streams to fish for salmon in the future.

The funding was included in the Commerce-Justice-Science bill that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday. 

List of funded projects:

CLARK COUNTY

·         $750,000 for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police to purchase police technology and equipment, including a Total Containment Vessel for biological threats

·         $500,000 for Clark County to establish a KidsPeace therapeutic foster care center in Las Vegas

·         $500,000 for the City of Henderson Police Department to purchase a tactical robot and equip a training facility

·         $300,000 for the City of North Las Vegas to update their records management equipment.  In FY08, Senator Reid secured $399,500 for phase one of this project.

·         $400,000 for the City of Las Vegas to reduce incidents of copper wire theft.  It is estimated that copper wire theft costs the city more than $1 million per year.

·         $200,000 for Boys Town of Las Vegas to expand services for at-risk youth.  (This funding was secured along with Senator Ensign.)

·         $200,000 for OliveCrest therapeutic foster care in Las Vegas to treat at-risk youth

WASHOE COUNTY

·         $800,000 for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to equip a DNA lab and pay for DNA analysis.  (This funding was secured along with Senator Ensign.)

·         $200,000 for the Grant Sawyer Center at the University of Nevada, Reno to continue their work in training judicial personnel

·         $800,000 for the National Judicial College in Reno to continue judicial training and education for the judges throughout the nation. (This funding was secured along with Senator Ensign.)

·         $3,000,000 to fund operations at the Regional Climate Centers throughout the nation, one of which is located in Reno. (This funding was secured along with Senator Ensign.)

STATE AND OTHER COUNTIES

·         $250,000 for the Nevada Department of Public Safety for a pilot program to treat probationers diagnosed with substance abuse.

·         $300,000 for the Carson City Anti-Meth Initiative to combat meth and related drug crimes in Northern Nevada.  (This funding was secured along with Senator Ensign.  Last year, Senators Reid and Ensign secured $312,550 for this effort.)

·         $300,000 for the law enforcement equipment for the City of Fernley. (This funding was secured along with Senator Ensign.)