59°F
weather icon Clear

Latest police report details progress within department

Boulder City Police Chief Bill Conger emphasized the importance of community policing during his detailed report of the department at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Conger, who was brought on permanently as police chief in September, said the department has made “significant progress” since his report last year. Conger said he spoke with every employee in the department when his transition beganto discuss strengths, weaknesses and enhance communication among staff.

Among the goals Conger laid out was challenging his officers to become more involved with the community. He said he hopes to have a Citizens Academy implemented by March, and a Neighborhood Watch program in full effect by June. He also plans on starting foot patrol and bike patrol in the downtown district, and plans to hire another part-time dispatcher within the next month.

“It will get us back in touch with not only our business community, but our citizens within the community so they know we’re out there to help them,” Conger said. “Community policing was a concept mostly for larger communities. For smaller communities like Boulder City, it’s the norm, and we really need to drive that point home and go forward with that.”

Councilman Rod Woodbury agreed with establishing a stronger police presence in the community.

“If you center everything around community, you’re headed in the right direction,” he said.

Another priority is organizing the department’s evidence vault, such as throwing out a case of beer that had been in there since 1998.

“When I got here, it was in pretty bad shape,” he said. “We had dope that wasn’t locked up; we had guns mixed up with other stuff; and we had over $17,000 in cash in the vault. We had to get that stuff cleaned up.”

Traffic enforcement remains a priority, especially with the start of the new school year less than two weeks away. “No U-turn” signs will be placed at Adams Boulevard on Avenues B and G to keep children safer in high-traffic areas.

“People were doing U-turns with kids in the crosswalk. If they overshot it a little bit, there was a potential to hit the kids,” Conger said.

Councilman Cam Walker said he wants the police department to train crossing guards and develop stronger communication with them when it comes to policing the school zones so everyone is on the same page.

Mayor Roger Tobler said the city needs to find a better way to communicate with the Nevada Transportation Department, especially when it comes to Interstate 11.

Regardless of any upcoming challenges, Conger said the future looks bright for the Boulder City Police Department.

“We had some challenges, but I like to stay positive and stay moving forward,” he said. “It’s tough to look in the rearview mirror and run things while doing that.”

Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Community pride on full display

A mixture of lime, paint and water was used to touch up the city landmark, which saw the B first painted in 1985 and two years later the C by BCHS students. It had been 10 years since the last time it was touched up. Event organizer Bret Runion said he was pleased with the turnout and hopes to see even more assist in future years.

It’s official: STRs banned in BC

For an issue that has caused so much local uproar for more than a year, the question of whether Boulder City should formalize the informal-but-still-binding ban on short-term rentals (STR) within city limits ended with more of a whimper than a bang Tuesday as the City Council voted 4-1 to adopt text changes to city code clarifying that the practice is illegal and establishing a system of civil fines for STR owners who continue to operate.

A busy Saturday in Boulder City

Saturday proved to be a very busy day in Boulder City as events included repainting of the BC on Radar Mountain (see page 2 for photos), as well as the city’s Easter Egg Hunt at Wilbur Square, Flowfest and the popular goat yoga class at Bicentennial Park and the Injured Police Officers Fund car show at Veterans’ Memorial Park.

To chip or not to chip?

In its second time at the plate, as it were, the proposal by Boulder City Councilmember Cokie Booth to require that pets within BC be microchipped ended up with a lot of people talking about maybe taking a swing at the ball but no one actually doing so.

Council candidate slate set

A total of seven candidates for city council and three candidates for justice of the peace of Boulder Township will face off in the primary election scheduled for June 11.

Ultrarunner to push himself to the limit

It’s not uncommon for friends or even family members to try and best one another whether that be athletics, academics or relationships.

Vets home hit with 18 citations

In a recent unannounced inspection, the Southern Nevada State Veterans’ Home was cited 18 times for issues ranging from verbal abuse of a patient to failing to provide meals at an appropriate temperature, to employees not having keys to locked gates, which would be needed in the case of an emergency evacuation.

BDCU looks back on past year at annual meeting

For more than eight decades, the Boulder Dam Credit Union has been the most popular place for Boulder City residents to do their banking, not to mention see friends and neighbors.

Top o’ the evening to ya

Photos by Ron Eland/Boulder City Review

BC repaint: Countdown is on

It’s almost time to don that old pair of jeans, the ratty tennis shoes in the back of your closet and a shirt you’re not worried about ruining.