Nevada AG talks trends, teamwork at law enforcement summit

CARSON CITY — Law enforcement representatives from around the state came to Carson City on Thursday to meet with state Attorney General Adam Laxalt to discuss emerging crime trends and how agencies can work together.

Laxalt, a Republican elected in November, said the goal of his law enforcement summit is to open communication with prosecutors and investigators in Nevada’s far-flung regions, share notes and foster collaboration.

“I feel there is a unique opportunity to make sure there is an incredibly strong relationship between this office and all of our local law enforcement,” Laxalt said.

He said that on his first day in office he sent letters to every sheriff, police chief and district attorney in the state.

“I made it clear that I consider them the tip of the spear,” he said. “The law enforcement out there every day is trying to keep our communities safe.”

Laxalt said 55 people were invited to attend the daylong summit and more than 100 showed up.

The most important thing is to receive feedback from local law enforcement on what’s happening in their communities.

“We need to know if there’s a new emerging threat that faces our families and our communities,” Laxalt said. “I think the attorney general’s office is in a unique position to be speaking to Douglas County and White Pine at the same time and be able to connect those dots.”

Douglas County District Attorney Mark Jackson and Sheriff Ron Pierini agreed.

Jackson, who is president of the Nevada District Attorney’s Association, said the attorney general “has to have the assistance of the local sheriffs.” Likewise, local officials need the assistance of the state office to combat such things as fraud against the elderly and domestic violence.

“Our state is so big that sometimes we don’t even know the issues that small counties may have,” Pierini said.

Thursday’s agenda included topics on medical and recreational marijuana, forfeitures, crime labs, body cameras, human trafficking, sex offenders, tech crime, capital and public integrity cases.

Local law enforcement was also given an overview of the types of assistance the attorney general’s office can offer them, from computer forensics and sex offender registration compliance to grants and victim services.

Laxalt said they would also discuss bill drafts and legislative proposals. He hoped to make the summit an annual event.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb.