Hoover Dam Police Department
Stored: Hoover Dam Police Department, Hoover Dam Police Department
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Hoover Dam Police Department was a federal security police force under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, responsible for law enforcement at Hoover Dam from the 1930s until its dissolution on October 1, 2017, when its duties were transferred to the National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Reclamation Security Response Force (SRF).
Mission
The Hoover Dam Police Department aimed to protect Hoover Dam—designated as National Critical Infrastructure—and its surrounding 22-square-mile Hoover-Mead Security Zone by enforcing laws, managing traffic, responding to emergencies, and ensuring the safety of employees and approximately 1.2 million annual visitors, supporting the dam’s critical role in generating 2,080 megawatts of hydroelectric power.
Parent organization
The Hoover Dam Police Department operated under the Bureau of Reclamation, within the Department of the Interior, tasked with securing the Lower Colorado Region’s water and power infrastructure.
Legislation
The department was not established by specific legislation but evolved from the Bureau of Reclamation’s authority under the Reclamation Act of 1902, with its police role formalized in the 1930s during Hoover Dam’s construction and early operations.
Partners
- National Park Service for law enforcement transition post-2017
- Local agencies (e.g., Boulder City Police) for mutual aid
- FBI for counter-terrorism coordination
Number of employees
Exact employee numbers are not well-documented post-dissolution; at its closure in 2017, the department had a small force of federal officers, all reassigned to other Reclamation roles, NPS, or federal positions without layoffs, per Bureau statements.
Organization structure
The Hoover Dam Police Department was a compact unit focused on dam-specific security:
Leader
The department was led by a Chief of Police, reporting to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region security leadership.
Divisions
The department had no formal divisions but included:
- Patrol Unit for security and traffic enforcement.
- Emergency Response Team for incident management.
- Coordination Team for interagency support.
List of programs
- Traffic Safety and Checkpoint Operations
- Visitor Protection Services
- Infrastructure Security Patrols
Last total enacted budget
The specific budget was not publicly isolated; it was funded within the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region budget, with FY 2017 appropriations at $169 million providing context, though police-specific funding ceased after October 1, 2017.
Staff
The staff consisted of federal police officers trained at facilities like the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), supported by unarmed Reclamation security guards, with staffing levels peaking during high-traffic periods to manage the dam’s 1.2 million annual visitors.
Funding
From the 1930s to 2017, the Hoover Dam Police was funded through Bureau of Reclamation appropriations, supporting its law enforcement mission until its dissolution, when funding shifted to NPS and SRF operations.
Services provided
The department enforced federal and state laws, controlled traffic across the dam (until the 2010 bypass), responded to emergencies, assisted local and federal agencies, and protected the dam from threats, implementing strict vehicle checkpoints post-9/11 to enhance security.
Regulations overseen
The department enforced Bureau of Reclamation regulations and federal laws within the Hoover-Mead Security Zone but did not create regulations; post-2017, NPS assumed regulatory enforcement alignment.
Headquarters address
Hoover Dam, Boulder City, NV 89006
History
The Hoover Dam Police Department began in the early 1930s with construction marshal Claude Williams, transitioning from U.S. Marshals to a dedicated federal force by 1939 to secure the dam during WWII. Post-9/11, it tightened security with checkpoints until the 2010 Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge diverted traffic. On October 1, 2017, it dissolved, with law enforcement duties transferring to NPS rangers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area and physical security to the Bureau’s SRF.
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations: