LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The multi-agency response to Wednesday’s Tesla Cybertruck bombing at the Trump International Hotel was a joint effort from law enforcement and private security in the Las Vegas resort corridor.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s headquarters is also home to the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center. It fuses local and federal agencies like the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to prevent targeted attacks.
In situations like Wednesday’s bombing, one of the fusion center’s objectives is to make sure there isn’t a widespread threat. Once it’s determined to be an isolated incident operators change gears.
“You’re going to switch it more to the investigative mode of kind of digging up and finding out everything you can about the incident, and then working hand in hand with the security chiefs along the Las Vegas Boulevard,” Ashton Packe, retired LVMPD Counterterrorism Sergeant, said.
Packe served in the valley for 23 years. He’s Las Vegas born-and-raised — the son of a casino executive. Packe knows the strength of the relationship between law enforcement and the Strip’s security.
“All the security directors are going to know almost in an instant that something is happening in the valley,” he said.
Packe says the Security Chiefs Association for Las Vegas resorts have instant communication with Metro police. These private security teams are made up of experienced professionals.
“Most of the security chiefs and people who work in the security industry are retired law enforcement. Lots of former federal law enforcement, FBI agents, special agents,” Packe said. “You have lots of retired Metro supervisors and Metro executive leadership that also step into those roles.”
Packe says the relationship between Metro and the resort corridor has been strong for decades, citing his father’s casino experience in the ’80s.
