Published: October 19, 2023, 10:10h.
Last updated: October 19, 2023, 10:10h.
Las Vegas officials have unveiled a new police substation at the Fremont Street Experience (FSE) to improve public safety and combat the rising crime rate in the popular pedestrian mall.
The substation, occupying an 8,500-square-foot complex, will be manned by officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), Las Vegas marshals, and FSE security guards, marking the third downtown Las Vegas substation.
“We continue to prioritize public safety with the opening of this new joint police station,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman during the inauguration ceremony.
“This has been a long time coming. We’ve had a spike in violence on the Fremont Street Experience, so we came together to figure out how we could get a handle on this,” stated Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
Andrew Simon, president and CEO of FSE, emphasized the importance of making visitors feel secure, stating, “We don’t want people to feel nervous when they come to Fremont Street.”
“You know the police are right here and no question about it,” Simon added. “When you look around this substation, it is prominent and, in your face.”
Tourists Praise Police
Tourists visiting Las Vegas have expressed their appreciation for the increased police presence and improved safety provided by the new substation.
“You hear all these nightmares about bad things happening, but I have never felt so safe in my entire life. Between the hotel and police and security on the street,” said Kim Bruce, a Canadian tourist.
“In England, there are fewer police, so when we see police around here, it’s the best way to be when you have all these top-end things on this main Strip,” added Michael Davies, a tourist from England.
Recent Crimes
In the past year, the FSE has experienced a series of violent crimes, including multiple shootings and assaults.
The most notable incident occurred in June 2022 when Raymond Renova, a tattoo artist and Las Vegas resident, was fatally shot during a dispute. Another innocent bystander was injured in the incident. Ruben Robles, then 16, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder.
In connection with the same incident, Fabian Carmona, 22, was also arrested and faced charges of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Additionally, a 16-year-old McDonald’s employee allegedly fired shots at a crowd near FSE in December 2022, injuring two people. The suspect, Na’quentin Norsworthy, was later apprehended.