HENDERSON, NEVADA – The following recent headlines surprised many in the Las Vegas area:
“Crime State Rankings 2007 Again Designates Nevada as Nation’s Most Dangerous State”
Morgan Quitno Press, March 22, 2007
“Las Vegas – The Car Theft King”, Las Vegas Review-Journal April 24, 2007
On March 22, 2007, Morgan Quitno Press released their 14th annual report on the Most Dangerous State in the Nation, calling Nevada the nation’s most dangerous state for the fourth consecutive year.
On April 24, 2007, the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s 2006 report on the rate of auto thefts listed the Las Vegas area as the worst in the entire Nation.
“These statistics help to reinforce the fact that we have a critical shortage in our valley that must be addressed immediately. That shortage is in our capacity to process crime scenes; and to collect, process and analyze forensic evidence,” said Rick Workman, Chairman of the volunteer organization Friends of Henderson CSI.
The following headline will surprise many:
“The Number of Publicly Owned Full-Service Crime Labs in Southern Nevada is Zero”
There is only one full-service forensic crime lab in southern Nevada, and the buildings are not publicly owned. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) operates a crime lab in a facility leased from a private owner. The lab processes most of its own evidence, and a relatively small portion of the evidence recovered by other law enforcement agencies in the area, for a fee. The LVMPD lab, like other labs throughout the country, has its own limitations in crime scene processing and has sustained evidence processing and analysis backlogs.
Other law enforcement agencies in southern Nevada process crime scenes in their own jurisdictions. Several of those agencies send large portions of their evidence to local private or out-of-state labs because there is insufficient local public crime lab capacity.
Nearly every aspect of crime scene investigation, evidence collection, and forensic evidence analysis is in critical shortage throughout southern Nevada. As a result, cases take longer to solve, cases remain unsolved, and others that could be prevented are not. Our safety, security, economy, and quality-of-life are at stake.
Headlines in newspapers across the country frequently remind us of how DNA, fingerprint processing, and other significant advances in forensic technologies are helping to solve crimes, prevent crime, and save lives. In order to take advantage of these technologies, we need a state-of-the-art facility to house the necessary equipment and the personnel.
The headlines about the Nevada 2007 “dangerous state” ranking and Las Vegas area’s number one ranking as the “car theft king” should motivate our communities to take action.
The “Friends of Henderson CSI” (FHCSI) is a volunteer organization that was created to do just that. The primary goal is to help raise private funds to build a state-of-the-art publicly owned and operated forensic science center (crime lab with a crime scene investigation section and evidence vault), said Workman.
A second crime lab in southern Nevada will help solve and prevent crimes, and save lives. Criminals recognize no boundaries and regularly commit crimes in multiple jurisdictions. Crimes solved in one area are frequently linked to crimes committed in others. “We have numerous examples of major crimes committed in one local law enforcement agency’s jurisdiction, being solved by another,” said Workman. “Although the facility will be located in Henderson, it will play a critical role in the overall safety, security and economy of the entire Las Vegas Valley and southern Nevada. The Center’s resources will be used to assist many other law enforcement agencies in southern Nevada,” he added.
There have been numerous newspaper and television reports regarding the fundraising efforts of FHCSI, and an advertising company posted a sign on a huge roadside billboard to encourage the public to participate. “We are making progress, however, so far we have only received donations or pledges for slightly over $1.1 million; well short of the approximate $37 million needed to design and build the facility. The fundraising campaign will shift to a focus on letters to businesses and community leaders, and a grass roots-type campaign”, Workman reported.
Residents, businesses and community leaders are asked to support this critical project and to spread the word about this critical need throughout our communities. Please visit www.NevadaCSI.com for information about this critical community project. You may go to www.NevadaCSI.com/donate.html for a contribution form.
About the Friends of Henderson CSI
The Friends of Henderson CSI was established in Henderson, Nevada in 2005. Our primary purpose is to raise funds to build, equip and support a Forensic Science Center. The approximately 77,000 sq. ft. Center will include a Forensic Crime Lab, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Section, and Evidence Vault. The facility will be located in Henderson, but will play a critical role in the overall safety and security of the entire Las Vegas Valley and southern Nevada. The Center’s resources will be used to assist other law enforcement agencies in southern Nevada in every way possible.
All financial contributions are managed by the Henderson Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation registered as a Public Charity with the IRS.
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Additional information for media:
Primary Subjects: Nevada, dangerous state, car theft rates, Las Vegas, CSI, crime scene investigation, crime lab, fundraising
Secondary Subjects: Forensic science center, forensic, evidence, scientific, science
Locations: Henderson, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada
If you wish to review the online version of our press releases, please go to www.NevadaCSI.com and follow the link on the left navigation bar to “Press Releases”, or go directly to the page by this link: http://www.hendersoncrimelab.com/press_releases.html
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