July 2, 2008

Las Vegas, NV– Nevada Senator Harry Reid toured the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center’s state-of-the-art Fusion Center located just off the Las Vegas Strip.  The center is dedicated to protecting Nevadans by allowing first responders to coordinate a faster, more seamless reaction during a crisis or natural disaster. 

The tour gave insight into the 24,000-square foot center’s capabilities, which includes a process of information sharing that strikes preemptively against crime.  When the number of robberies rose over the spring, Metro utilized data sharing to put more officers on the street in high-risk areas. 

“As a world-class tourist destination, Nevada’s homeland security needs are enormous,” Reid said.  “With that sober reality always in mind, I worked to secure $9 million in homeland security grants for our state.  The Fusion Center helps us take additional steps to protect Nevadans and our millions of tourists each year.”

“Centers like this are costly, and without the support from federal programs, cities like ours would not be able to have a robust center such as this,” Sheriff Douglas C. Gillespie said.  “Senator Reid is and has always been a supporter of local law enforcement.  This is another such example.”