Policing Las Vegas: A History of Law Enforcement in Southern Nevada (True Crime) [Paperback]

Denny Griffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0929712234 | ISBN-13: 978-0929712239

Policing Las Vegas chronicles the evolution of law enforcement in Las Vegas and Clark County from the days of night watchmen and cops who carted drunks to jail on horseback to today s acclaimed Metropolitan Police Department. It s filled with stories about the colorful characters on both sides of the law, drawn from history, legend, and the personal accounts of many men and women who policed Las Vegas.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dennis N. Griffin retired in 1994 after a 20-year career in investigations and law enforcement in New York State. He and his wife Faith moved to Las Vegas shortly afterward. Dennis wrote his first novel, The Morgue, in 1996. He currently has six published mystery thrillers, including the first two books of a Las Vegas based trilogy. The author is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America, Las Vegas Valley Writers Group, Henderson Writers Group, and the Police Writers Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Huntington Press (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929712234
• ISBN-13: 978-0929712239
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,895,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great history of Metro, November 19, 2007

By 

David G. Schwartz "writer, historian" (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Policing Las Vegas: A History of Law Enforcement in Southern Nevada (True Crime) (Paperback)

This book bills itself as a history of law enforcement in Southern Nevada and is very comprehensive, but ultimately feels more like a collection of anecdotes, facts, and personalities than a cohesive narrative. Griffin is also a mystery writer, and his forte is serving his readers a nice, meaty <em>story</em>. That's where <em>Policing Las Vegas</em> is the strongest--particularly in the chapters on the Mob and the 1992 race riots, where Griffin reads almost like an eyewitness account.

The early material, however, is paper-thin. While Griffin has my sympathies--there's probably a lack of documentary evidence of the region's police departments' early years--there's not much excuse for the scatter-shot presentation of the first six decades of this history. Chiefs are raised to honor and toppled from grace (usually with no explanation of why), Las Vegas sees milestones like its first patrol car and first female officer, and statistics about the city's growth occasionally march in, but with little sense of flow or progress. And there's certainly nothing to put what we're reading into context: as Western towns go, was Las Vegas progressive or slow-to-change in its policing? It has the feel of an author with limited sources writing a chronology rather than a true history.

In its later years, as newspaper accounts grow less telegraphic and living interviewees emerge, though, the book is quite good. As it happens, this uptick in quality coincides with the establishment of the unified Las Vegas/Clark County Metro Police Department in 1973. From here on in, <em>Policing Las Vegas </em>is rock-solid and far more readable. The reader almost forgets that the first 68 years of Las Vegas policing were covered in a perfunctory 42 pages. You don't get the answer to life, the universe, and everything, but you do learn the basic history of Metro.

And what a history it is. Political squabbles over consolidation give way to a struggle with various organized crime figures. There's some solid police work discussed here. And the long chapter on the 1992 riots reads almost like a primary source document. There are also stirring testimonials to Metro officers who have fallen in the line of duty and helpful appendices with various landmark dates and Metro initiatives.

The richness of the the material from 1973 onwards, though, only makes the books initial skeletal treatment stand out more starkly.

If you consider this a history of Metro with a longish preface about the pre-Metro years, you won't be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended by New Book Reviews, March 4, 2006

By 

Dennis N. Griffin "Denny Griffin, author" (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Policing Las Vegas: A History of Law Enforcement in Southern Nevada (True Crime) (Paperback)

Synopsis

After being established as a railroad town, most of Las Vegas' population was made up of tough railroaders, and miners who worked, drank and fought hard. Sam Gay, the first police chief, as well as the first elected county sheriff, broke up the numerous scuffles by grabbing the combatants by the scruff of the neck and banging their heads together-- it was the beginning of a long legacy of law and order in America's most explosive boomtown.

Over the years Las Vegas left behind its rough and tumble beginnings to become the gambling and entertainment capital of the world. Naturally, the influx of residents and visitors-- and their money--brought crime. From Prostitutes to street gangs, mobsters to drug dealers, robbers to cheats, Sin City has seen it all. And law enforcement efforts have had to adapt accordingly.

ISBN:0-929712-23-4

Category: Non-Fiction, History - Law Enforcement

Our New Book Review

Huntington Press

A well written history is among my favorite books, Policing Las Vegas by Dennis N Griffin certainly exceeds my standards for this category. Well researched and presented, the City of Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County Nevada's history of law enforcement is filled with colorful crooks and cops. From "Mob Enforcers" to gangbangers, and the men and women that worked to bring them to justice, this work is filled with the reasons why Metro Las Vegas Police Department is one of the leading Police Departments in existence.

Mr. Griffin has avoided the sometimes dry facts and figures rote, by using the "real" colorful characters that brought about the changes and growth to LVMVPD and the reasons why they did so. His use of recent interviews of people that were there, in person, shows the many faces of law enforcement and the determination most had to do the job well. He shows events and people, both good and bad, as they were recorded.

My highest recommendation is given to anyone that enjoys history or law enforcement subjects.

Ray Ward (...)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My thoughts on Policing Las Vegas, December 14, 2005

By 

Keith J. Bettinger (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Policing Las Vegas: A History of Law Enforcement in Southern Nevada (True Crime) (Paperback)

There's a great book that just hit the market - Policing Las Vegas, by Dennis Griffin. As Las Vegas, NV reaches its Centennial in May 2005, the book, that is a complete and unvarnished history of law enforcement in this wild and unique city, is there to introduce the reader to the crime fighters that made Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department what it is today.

Take the time to visit with Hiram Powell, the rough and tough street cop, who tangled in the 1940s with Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel on numerous occasions. Hi always came out the winner, even with Bugsy having friends in the business, if you know what I mean. If you think Hi's story in the book is fascinating, you should take the time to meet him in person. Yes, he still lives here in town.

Meet Herman Moody, one of the first African-American police officers in the city of Las Vegas. Find out what it was like to work the rough west side of the small but growing city. Herman gave the city of Las Vegas more than thirty years of service. He too is still in town and shares his experiences with his friends.

Visit the modern age of law enforcement as a very busy department serves the ever-expanding community of Las Vegas and Clark County. Come and meet today's heroes of the department like Enrique Hernandez, who after an anything but routine traffic stop, was shot numerous times by the criminal her pursued. Although severely wounded, Enrique has fought hard to recover and has returned to limited duty. Also meet Dennis Devitte, who while off duty was confronted by armed robbers, and even though he faced superior firepower, took the robbers on, was shot eight times, but was still able to return fire and kill one of the robbers.

Mr. Griffin was able to write Policing Las Vegas with the cooperation of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. This fantastic book was three years in the making. When the project was undertaken, Mr. Griffin told the department he would cover the history of the department, not just the good stories, but all the stories. He has covered both the good and the bad, and how it has affected this well respected police department. In fact, at a recent book signing and reception, Sheriff Bill Young, honored Mr. Griffin by attending the event and praised Mr. Griffin for his outstanding book, Policing Las Vegas.