Ride Along
November 28, 2011 - 2:00 am

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas police officer Paul Hunter covers the back window of an apartment where shots were reported fired in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Neighbors said they herd two distinct shots fired at the incident. The suspects were gone before police arrived.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas police officer Travis Chapman walks with his gun drawn while while searching for suspects in a break-in in Las Vegas Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas Metropolitan police officer Matt Harris speaks with a suspect while on patrol June 2, 2011. Harris is a trained CIT officer.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas Metropolitan police officer Matt Harris drives in his patrol car while on patrol June 2, 2011. Harris is a trained CIT officer.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas Metropolitan police officer Matt Harris speaks with a woman while on patrol June 2, 2011. Harris is a trained CIT officer.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas Metropolitan police officer Daniel Coyne draws his gun as he prepares to search a vacant home in Las Vegas June 2, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
The Las Vegas Valley is seen from the East side of the Valley during a police ride-along Oct. 29, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas police officer Travis Chapman is seen reflected in the rear-view mirror of his police cruiser while on patrol in Las Vegas Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
North Las Vegas police officer Tony Gomez speaks with a driver he pulled over in North Las Vegas Friday, Nov. 18, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
North Las Vegas Police Officer Bruce Reeves, left, searches through items belonging to John Murray, right, and Stacy Mikijanis, center, in North Las Vegas, Nev. June 18, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
A North Las Vegas police officer wraps up a knife used in an attempted suicide in North Las Vegas Friday, Nov. 18, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas Metropolitan police officer Daniel Coyne draws his gun as he enters a home for a welfare check in Las Vegas June 2, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas police officer Paul Hunter knocks on a door for a welfare check at a home in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 14, 2011.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas police officer Paul Hunter runs, gun in hand, toward an apartment where shots were reported fired in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Neighbors said they herd two distinct shots fired at the incident. The suspects were gone before police arrived.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas police officer Paul Hunter, left, and and unidentified officer check an apartment building, guns in hand, where shots were reported fired in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Neighbors said they herd two distinct shots fired at the incident. The suspects were gone before police arrived.

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas police officer Paul Hunter covers the back window of an apartment where shots were reported fired in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Neighbors said they herd two distinct shots fired at the incident. The suspects were gone before police arrived.
On any given night, police officers in Las Vegas face myriad situations–some are benign, but many have the potential to become explosive. Officers must get the facts quickly in volatile situations and discern who is telling the truth and who is not.