LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police say the first five months of the year have proven especially violent with seven drug-related killings, the same number in all of 2014.
Las Vegas police said Wednesday the agency hopes to stem the pace of homicides, shootings and domestic-violence incidents attributed partly to an improving economy by adding 68 newly graduated police officers to patrols and participating in a community-building program. Police say the area's crime dropped during the recession.
The Las Vegas Sun reports there have been 252 shootings so far compared to 194 shootings during the same time last year. Police say 13 people have been killed in the first 16 days of May.
Community-building efforts happening June 8-15 coincide with the one-year anniversary of the shooting deaths of officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo.