Although trained and prepared for nearly any situation that could arise, these federal police officers are most commonly confronted by a need to control and minimize traffic congestion. This is not surprising, considering that more than 1.2 million visitors are attracted annually to the sire, in addition to 3 million vehicles-from bicycles to heavy-duty 18-wheelers-that cross the dam each year, negotiating steep inclines, hairpin turns and distractingly scenic beauty.
Former Chief Ron Bayer, recently named regional security officer, said problems associated with traffic control at Hoover Dam can multiply whenever a film crew is shooting at the site. The dam has had "cameo appearances" in at least 100 movies and TV programs.
Chief Melim and Bayer are graduates of the FBI National Academy. Other members of the force are veteran police officers, and have undergone training at the federal police training academy in Glynco, Ga. Nearly all have attended training courses presented by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and participate in ongoing weapons training at the HDPD's pistol range.
Although armed with typical police equipment, the tool the officers most often rely on to quell a situation is their knowledge and practical use of "people skills." "Dealing with a lost person is one thing," the chief said, but on a hot desert day, "correcting a misunderstanding can be the first step toward getting a visitor's anger under control."
Chief Melim and his officers maintain an ongoing awareness regarding the security of the dam against those who would attempt to harm the dam or its visitors for attention and promotion of their cause. But, if the need for outside assistance should ever arise, operational relationships with the FBI as well as other local law enforcement entities help to ensure the security of the dam and its visitors.
