You may have noticed that with all the activity and increased population - both residents and those who come to the area to party, dine and play - downtown safety is on the rise.  According to Capt. Michael Dalley of the Downtown Area Command, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, current statistics easily support that trend. "Violent crimes are down a whopping 21 percent and property crimes are down nearly 13 percent over the same time last year," Dalley said. "In fact, crime in the downtown area is significantly down by double digits in almost every category."

Dalley attributes the improvement to several Metro initiatives, willingness among local residents to report crimes in progress and pride of ownership from a growing number of both downtown businesses and residents.

"I've lived in Las Vegas my whole life," said Dalley, who believes the volume of new business development has fueled a major transformation of the area that has made a significant impact on crime. "This is an incredibly exciting time to be downtown, and we've also stepped up our efforts."

Four Metro programs have played a major role in the crime drop. They include reader boards that proclaim the area a crime-free corridor and let would-be criminals know they are being watched.

According to Dalley, the boards are very effective in reducing car break-ins, and they are being rotated around high-traffic areas such as shopping center parking lots. A second program includes ongoing meetings with stakeholders - such as downtown
residents and businesses - to help build relationships with Metro, heighten awareness for safety programs and engage the community.

Safety Summits are large-scale community events designed for specific neighborhoods. According to Dalley, Metro recently held a Safety Summit in the Fremont Street/14^th Street neighborhood. More than 400 area residents participated in this event which became an opportunity for the entire community to bond and served to build further trust and mutual cooperation. "Through these fun community events, we build trust with key residents and neighborhoods where crime has historically been a problem." More Safety Summits are planned this year.

And finally, Metro has organized downtown into core areas designed to maintain police presence round-the-clock. According to Dalley, this core approach helps Metro to be more strategic and thoughtful about scheduling and placing officers in key areas during peak times.

Photo: Downtown safety is on the rise thanks to several Metro-sponsored initiatives, including a round-the-clock presence.