Hoover Dam Police
Encyclopedia
The Hoover Dam Police, officially the Bureau of Reclamation Police, is a federal security police
force, stationed at Hoover Dam
23 miles (37 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada
. Reclamation Police Officers are stationed only at Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam was both listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1981, and was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1985. Hoover Dam has been designated as a National Critical Infrastructure
. The primary responsibilities of the Hoover Dam Police Officer are to protect the Dam, the world's 38th-largest hydroelectric generating station, which provides about 2080 megawatts, its associated structures, and to safeguard the lives of visitors and employees. The Hoover Dam Police are assisted by unarmed Bureau of Reclamation Security Guard
s who control access to Reclamation facilities and deter individuals who might consider criminal activities or terrorist acts.
s, bus
es carrying luggage, and enclosed-box trucks over 40 feet (12.2 m) long were not allowed on the dam at all. That traffic was diverted south to a Colorado River bridge at Laughlin, Nevada
. Once the bypass opened on October 19, 2010, all through traffic was rerouted on it; the roadway on the dam is now open only to employees and dam visitors.
, and 9 miles (14 km) south of the dam in Arizona
, before crossing.
With the opening of the bypass, traffic patterns changed dramatically. Through traffic no longer goes through a checkpoint on either side of the river. On the Nevada side, the dam road now branches off U.S. 93 before the checkpoint, which remains in operation to screen dam visitors. On the Arizona side, the road across the dam dead-ends in parking lots, no longer connecting to U.S. 93. This made the Arizona checkpoint unnecessary.
The Nevada checkpoint is manned by Hoover Dam Police and Bureau of Reclamation Security Guard
s plus contracted private security personnel, as was the Arizona checkpoint before its closing. Personnel at the checkpoint may inspect any vehicle at any time before it is allowed to pass through and cross the dam.
Hoover Dam Police Officers perform a variety of duties and are skilled in law enforcement techniques, as well as public relations. Their duties include traffic control, manning a stationary post, and conducting foot or roving vehicle patrols. Police Officers patrol perimeters, areas open to the public, and restricted access areas to detect violations and enforce laws and regulations, including trespass and other crimes against persons and property. Police Officers assist other Federal and State law enforcement agencies with investigations. Police Officers conduct routine physical security checks of buildings, parking areas, gates, fences, and restricted access areas throughout the facility.
, the current Chief
of the Hoover Dam Police is Anthony M. Losito
at Glynco, Georgia
or Artesia, New Mexico
prior to full employment.
Security police
In some countries, including the United States, security police are those persons, employed by or for a governmental agency, who provide police and security services to those agencies' properties....
force, stationed at Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
23 miles (37 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Reclamation Police Officers are stationed only at Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam was both listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1981, and was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1985. Hoover Dam has been designated as a National Critical Infrastructure
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Critical infrastructure protection is a concept that relates to the preparedness and response to serious incidents that involve the critical infrastructure of a region or nation....
. The primary responsibilities of the Hoover Dam Police Officer are to protect the Dam, the world's 38th-largest hydroelectric generating station, which provides about 2080 megawatts, its associated structures, and to safeguard the lives of visitors and employees. The Hoover Dam Police are assisted by unarmed Bureau of Reclamation Security Guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
s who control access to Reclamation facilities and deter individuals who might consider criminal activities or terrorist acts.
Security concerns
Because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Hoover Dam Bypass project was expedited and traffic across the dam was restricted. Some types of vehicles were inspected prior to crossing the dam while semi-trailer truckSemi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
s, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es carrying luggage, and enclosed-box trucks over 40 feet (12.2 m) long were not allowed on the dam at all. That traffic was diverted south to a Colorado River bridge at Laughlin, Nevada
Laughlin, Nevada
Laughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is south of Las Vegas, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census, the...
. Once the bypass opened on October 19, 2010, all through traffic was rerouted on it; the roadway on the dam is now open only to employees and dam visitors.
Hoover-Mead Security Zone
The Hoover-Mead Security Zone encompasses 22 square miles (57 km²) around Hoover Dam and Lake Mead; before the opening of the bypass, this included 3.3 miles (5 km) of U.S. Highway 93. Vehicles had to pass through inspection checkpoints, located on U.S. Highway 93 1 mile (2 km) north of the dam in NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and 9 miles (14 km) south of the dam in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, before crossing.
With the opening of the bypass, traffic patterns changed dramatically. Through traffic no longer goes through a checkpoint on either side of the river. On the Nevada side, the dam road now branches off U.S. 93 before the checkpoint, which remains in operation to screen dam visitors. On the Arizona side, the road across the dam dead-ends in parking lots, no longer connecting to U.S. 93. This made the Arizona checkpoint unnecessary.
The Nevada checkpoint is manned by Hoover Dam Police and Bureau of Reclamation Security Guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
s plus contracted private security personnel, as was the Arizona checkpoint before its closing. Personnel at the checkpoint may inspect any vehicle at any time before it is allowed to pass through and cross the dam.
Duties
The Hoover Dam Police are responsible for the enforcement of federal and state laws and regulations in the security zone in both Nevada and Arizona; and to provide assistance for local and federal law enforcement agencies, such as handling motor vehicle accidents, traffic violations, public assistance, and the apprehension of wanted persons.Hoover Dam Police Officers perform a variety of duties and are skilled in law enforcement techniques, as well as public relations. Their duties include traffic control, manning a stationary post, and conducting foot or roving vehicle patrols. Police Officers patrol perimeters, areas open to the public, and restricted access areas to detect violations and enforce laws and regulations, including trespass and other crimes against persons and property. Police Officers assist other Federal and State law enforcement agencies with investigations. Police Officers conduct routine physical security checks of buildings, parking areas, gates, fences, and restricted access areas throughout the facility.
Organization
Headquartered in Boulder City, NevadaBoulder City, Nevada
Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....
, the current Chief
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
of the Hoover Dam Police is Anthony M. Losito
Training
Training received will depend on the needs of the individual and the agency. Specialized on-the-job training will be provided. Specialized training may include information about Reclamation dams and how the facilities operate, their vulnerabilities, and methods of protecting the facility, its employees, and the public against criminal activity and terrorist acts. In addition, Hoover Dam Police Officers attend up to 12 weeks of law enforcement training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training CenterFederal Law Enforcement Training Center
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center serves as an interagency law enforcement training organization for 90 United States government federal law enforcement agencies.-Location:...
at Glynco, Georgia
Glynco, Georgia
Glynco is an area in Glynn County, Georgia located on the northwestern edge of Brunswick, GA. Glynco is a contraction of the words "Glynn County".In 1942 the Naval Air Station Glynco was established on the area now known as Glynco...
or Artesia, New Mexico
Artesia, New Mexico
Artesia is a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States, centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 82 and 285; the two highways serve as the city's Main Street and First Street, respectively...
prior to full employment.
Popular culture
- In the 1997 film Fools Rush In, the character Isabel Fuentes Whitman (played by Salma HayekSalma HayekSalma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault is a Mexican film actress, director and producer. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida.-Early life:...
) delivers a baby on the Hoover Dam assisted by the Hoover Dam Police. - In the 2007 film Transformers, the Hoover Dam Police were shown providing external security to Sector 7Sector 7Sector 7 is a wordless picture book created and illustrated by David Wiesner. Published in 1999 by Clarion Books, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Honor for illustration in 2000.- Summary :...
.