"Unprecedented" Security Measures Coming To Las Vegas For NYE

LAS VEGAS, NV - Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo discussed the unprecedented level of local and federal security efforts that will accompany "America's Party" this New Year's Eve in Las Vegas at a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Lombardo said additional resources being brought to the Las Vegas valley are a result of the federal government's classification of the celebration as a SEAR 1 event. The Special Events Assesment Rating (SEAR) assesses events that could require security support from the federal government. The system uses a 1-3 ranking, with a Level One event presenting the highest risk. The rating is based on attendance, length of the event, and the economic impact of the event. The Super Bowl is an example of SEAR 1 event.

"It's been a multi-year process of myself and emergency management folks talking to DHS to ensure that we can elevate our SEAR process and what that brings along with it," Lombardo said. "Previously it was SEAR 3 and through those years of conversations and the threat picture that's occurring across the world, the federal government seemed fit to elevate us to SEAR 1."

How will security look different this year?

Lombardo said that in addition to spotters that will assume elevated positions along the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, snipers will also be present. Also, resources for Quick Response Teams - which "will respond and form a team and eliminate the threat as soon as possible," in the event of an emergency - have been doubled, Lombardo said.

To beef up security for the New Year's celebration in Las Vegas, the federal government has provided additional security personnel as well as resources such as tourniquets, bandages, tactical medics, and bomb sniffing and evidence collecting dogs - all supplementing the existing resources available from local law enforcement and emergency response personnel.

The federal government will also provide additional intelligence personnel to partner with LVMPD's intelligence personnel to monitor the situation beyond the perimeter of the event.

"They will provide intelligence and anything they analyze that they receive from different venues such as social media that could be of benefit to troops on the ground," Lombardo said.

Air assets will also be provided to supplement existing LVMPD resources and DHS and FBI mobile command stations will be setup throughout Las Vegas.

Lombardo said over 300 members of the National Guard and over 1,500 police officers will be part of the security.

"I'm confident every available resource is being used to make sure this New Year's Eve will be safe," he said. He added, "Law enforcement can't do this alone so I'm asking while you are out enjoying the festivities that you will also be observant and notify the police if you see anything suspicious or that just doesn't look right."

Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak said the city has taken the additional security measures, in part, because of the Oct. 1 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. The incident killed 58 people and amplified the need for security in large crowds gathered on the Las Vegas Strip.

"I understand that some people might be anxious in light of what happened on 1 October, but the federal upgrade in the SEAR level, the insulation of bollards along the Strip sidewalks and preparation taken by local, state. and federal sector partners will bring an unprecedented level of security to the festivities," Sisolak said.

Prohibited Items

The following items will be prohibited on the Las Vegas Strip during the New Year's Eve celebration:

• Bottles
• Large bags
• Strollers
• Backpacks
• Coolers

Image and video via LVMPD video