Anti-terrorism center offers reassurances against potential dangers

Never thought gizmos could be comforting, but after spending time at the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, I feel a stronger sense of security.

Of course, you must have faith in the competence of the people using the gadgets, and when Las Vegas police Detective Douglas Huffmaster showed off the equipment and enthusiastically explained what it could do, it was as comforting as macaroni and cheese.

My favorite was the $60,000 gizmo that looked like a black boom box. When John McCain last spoke in Henderson, these four puppies were put out to make sure there were no poisonous gases in the air, other than the regular political gases. But where there are big crowds, the gas detectors are there -- Miss America, NASCAR and the National Finals Rodeo. Not that there were specific threats, but because crowds are natural terrorism targets.

Huffmaster's favorite gadget looks like a bright yellow Dustbuster but is actually an $80,000 item that can test hazardous materials and identify what they are. And it's not just for acts of terrorism. A woman with Alzheimer's had a suspicious container and wasn't sure what was in it. Turns out it was nitric acid, not something she should be holding onto.

When ricin was found in a Las Vegas hotel room, the fusion center had the equipment to identify the deadly poison swiftly. You have to know what it is before you can mitigate what it does.

Then there was the center's version of the star of the movie "WALL-E," the lovable robot. They've got two of those, and they're not cheap. One cost $175,000.

"I'm running out of adjectives. It's just incredible," U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., told Sheriff Doug Gillespie after checking out one of two robots.

This stuff isn't just for show. The bulk of the equipment is used every New Year's Eve as one way to protect locals and tourists, the sheriff said.

The tour was organized so Titus, just appointed to the House Homeland Security Committee, could see the center for the first time Tuesday. Nevadans have a double-whammy for homeland security. U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security. State and local agencies pay for the cost of the personnel, while the federal government pays for the gizmos, which aren't cheap. And with ever-changing technology, federal dollars are needed to upgrade equipment.

This center isn't just about boys and their toys. It's about shared communication. That sounds like common sense, but 30 years ago in Las Vegas, the level of distrust between local and federal officials was so strong that sharing information was almost nonexistent.

So a disappointingly dull-looking building south of McCarran International Airport where 13 partners share information is a symbol of better cooperation among agencies. While Las Vegas police have the biggest presence, the FBI is represented with the federal Department of Homeland Security, the state Department of Public Safety, Henderson and North Las Vegas police, the Federal Aviation Administration, even the Clark County School District. Fire departments are also represented, which makes this fusion center different than the Los Angeles version.

Lt. Tom Monahan, director of the center, which opened in July 2007, explained the three components of the fusion center. One part analyzes information. Another investigates. If prevention doesn't work, the third element of the center is response, hopefully to mitigate the threats.

The center is about computers, people and gizmos. Not a water board in sight. I couldn't even find anybody who watched "24," much less emulated torture-happy hero Jack Bauer.

I like "24" because it makes me feel safer, like somebody can do something about terrorism in this nutty world. (Now if only I felt the same about the economy.)

But the fusion center, the people and the gizmos, reassured me that when there's a shooting at Virginia Tech or bombings in Mumbai, India, there are talented and equipped people in Las Vegas looking for that Las Vegas link, if there is one.

Next time I'm covering a big political event, I'll be looking around for the gizmos and people from the fusion center. Mumbai isn't the only place where backpacks could be left in cabs to explode or terrorists could seize hostages in hotels.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison/.