On March 3, 2026, criminology researchers Dr. Aili Malm and Dr. Bill Sousa from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) presented findings to city staff regarding an independent evaluation of the Las Vegas Department of Public Safety.
The assessment was funded by an $800,000 grant awarded in October 2023 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. The evaluation examined the department’s performance in areas such as safety, accountability, fairness, and effectiveness.
Researchers used a framework based on 100 nationally recognized policing metrics. This framework is consistent with the department’s efforts to achieve accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), which is expected by June 2027.
According to Dr. Malm and Dr. Sousa, “the Department of Public Safety’s initial ranking was positive and represents the second-highest starting assessment they have observed in similar evaluations.” They noted that previous assessments included agencies like the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, Tucson Police Department, Tampa Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department in Nebraska.
Las Vegas operates under a council-manager government system with an elected mayor and city council members who oversee various city departments (https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/Mayor-City-Council). The city covers 142 square miles in Nevada and has developed into a major destination for sports and tourism (https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/). More than 41 million visitors come to Las Vegas annually, where there are about 130 parks and facilities available for residents and tourists alike (https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/).
Las Vegas has also become known as a hub for professional sports teams such as the Vegas Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup in 2023 (https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Residents/History/Timeline).
To view the full assessment results referenced by UNLV researchers, click here.
