Area Briefing, June 18-24

SAFE SUMMER NIGHTS CELEBRATIONS PLANNED JUNE 26 AND AUG. 6

Residents are invited to get to know each other and enjoy music, games, entertainment and more during two upcoming Safe Summer Nights celebrations in the downtown area.

The free events, aimed at promoting peace and safety, are set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 26 at the Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave., and 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Kelly Elementary School, 1900 N. J St.

Free hot dogs, chips and water are scheduled to be served while supplies last. A community resource fair at the event will offer information regarding summer youth activities, health services, community safety, money management programs, adult education opportunities, living assistance and more.

Participants are slated to include area nonprofit organizations and city of Las Vegas officials.

For more information, call 702-229-5406.

SHOOTING COMPLEX OFFERS FREE CLASSES ON BASIC FIREARMS SAFETY

Free classes on basic firearms safety are planned at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the rifle-pistol training room at the Clark County Shooting Complex, 11357 N. Decatur Blvd.

The one-hour sessions will cover gun malfunctions, cleaning and storage and firearms etiquette. For more information, call 702-455-2000.

THE RANGE 702 PLANS FIREARMS TRAINING COURSE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS

The Range 702 plans a free firearms familiarization course for teachers and other education-certified employees.

The two-hour class is set for 3 p.m. Sundays and 9 p.m. Mondays at 4699 S. Dean Martin Drive. Eye and ear protection, firearms and ammunition will be provided. School district employees must bring a district or school ID on the day of the class. To book a course, call 702-485-3232 or visit therange702.com/training.

ROLE OF PATROL OFFICERS
TO BE DISCUSSED AT 1ST TUESDAY

Police plan to discuss the ins and outs of being a patrol officer during the Metropolitan Police Department’s 1st Tuesday program, set for 7 to 8 p.m. July 2 at the department’s valleywide area commands.

The 1st Tuesday program is a free open house-style event that takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. After speakers discuss assigned topics, residents can learn more about their neighborhoods and meet their local police officers.

For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 702-828-3111.

INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE
OFFERS NEW SAFETY COURSES

Guns and Ammo Garage announced that it expanded its safety classes with the addition of eight courses.

The courses deal with the basics of carrying concealed weapons and obtaining the proper permits and include women’s-only sessions. Private classes are also available.

The courses are to be conducted in a classroom at 3060 W. Ali Baba Lane.

Guns and Ammo Garage is at 5155 S. Dean Martin Drive. For more information, visit gunsandammogarage.com.

EVENTS PROMOTE NEW 3-FOOT LAW

Area bicyclists joined valley lawmakers and transportation officials May 30 in a press conference to promote the state’s new 3-foot law protecting those who are bicycling on the road.

Drivers must allow at least 3 feet of space between their cars and passing bicyclists. In addition, motorists should move over one lane if they have the opportunity.

The awareness event took place at the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s Bonneville Transit Center, 101 E. Bonneville Ave.

Also to promote the law, a six-mile bicycle ride took place June 1 in downtown Las Vegas. The ride included music, prizes and safety marshals.

For more information, visit rtcsnv.com or call 702-228-7433.

PARKING METER INSTALLATION BEGINS

City of Las Vegas officials made the first transactions June 4 with a multi-bay parking meter installed across the street from City Hall on Clark Avenue at First Street.

The transactions marked the beginning of the installation of roughly 233 of the meters in the downtown area.

The solar-powered meters accept credit and debit cards and coins. They will take the place of 1,216 coin-operated meters. Also, about 125 single-space meters are set to be permanently removed as part of the changeover.

Users will be able to print receipts and add time to the meters. In addition, the technologically advanced meters will eventually allow residents and visitors to use ParkMe, a mobile app that shows where on-street parking is available in real time. Also, new signage is set to be installed to ensure that customers can easily obtain the information they need to pay for parking.

Upgrading parking technology is the second phase of a long-term city parking plan to provide good customer service; make parking easy; improve financial performance; support existing businesses by tailoring parking options for customers, employees and residents; support new development by examining shared parking options; and create flexibility for special events.

EVENT RAISES AWARENESS OF HEATSTROKE

Valley safety officials and a parent whose child died of heatstroke sought to raise awareness of the condition during a May 23 event at Sunrise Children’s Hospital, 3186 S. Maryland Parkway.

Participants included the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safe Kids Worldwide, valley police and fire personal and government partners.

The event, hosted by Sunrise Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Clark County, featured a live demonstration by the Nevada Highway Patrol showing how emergency personnel respond to 911 calls and assess lock-in situations.

Nevada is one of several states with a high number of heatstroke fatalities: At least 11 children in the Silver State have died since 1998 due to vehicular heatstroke, officials said.

HENDERSON POLICE TO ASK RESIDENTS
TO RATE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH OFFICERS

The Henderson Police Department announced that it has been selected as one of 100 nationwide to participate in a Department of Justice-funded research project to improve police services.

Beginning this summer, residents who request police services or who have encounters with Henderson officers may be asked to rate their interaction as part of a long-term survey project known as the National Police Research Platform, developed and overseen by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Research in Law and Justice.

In addition to the resident surveys, the study will gather data from police officers and civilian police employees through surveys and agency records. The goal is to collect systematic data about law enforcement agencies to help establish benchmarks for excellence in policing.

The resident surveys are voluntary. As police reports are filed, a letter will be sent to those who have had police contact asking them to rate their experience by telephone or online.

Police encounters through traffic accidents, traffic stops and nonviolent crimes will be part of the survey.

No identifiable data will be collected so the identity of individuals will be protected, Henderson police said.

HOME POOL SAFETY TRAINING PLANNED

Home pool safety training is planned for 7 to 8 p.m. June 20 at Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive.

The cost is $25 for the one-hour program, offered by city of Las Vegas aquatic unit staff members. Sun safety will be incorporated into the training.

Call 702-229-1488 for more information.