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Ex-Sheriff Keller Named to Lead Le Reve Security

LAS VEGAS -- Steve Wynn said Monday that the threat of terrorism raises the importance of Strip resort security and is behind his decision to hire former Clark County Sheriff Jerry Keller as Le Reve's new security chief.

Keller served for 33 years on the Metropolitan Police Department force, including two terms as sheriff.

Those eight years ended in January with Keller's retirement, but Wynn sold the former top cop on the importance of his new job.

"With the threat of terrorism, possibly on the Strip, security concerns are much more important now compared to when we opened The Mirage and Bellagio," Wynn said Monday. "The possibility that Las Vegas could be a target made it mandatory that I pick a man of the highest caliber, and Jerry Keller is the perfect choice."

Keller's slated to begin his job running Wynn Resorts security operations on May 1, about two years before Wynn's $2 billion Le Reve is slated to open.

"Our job is to make our employees and our guests safe, and I couldn't have picked a better man than Jerry Keller," Wynn said.

Keller wasn't available for comment Monday, but his successor as sheriff, Bill Young, said Wynn made the perfect choice.

"Sheriff Keller is on top of homeland security, and Steve Wynn made the absolute best pick in the country," Young said. "I'm amazed Steve Wynn was able to lure him out of retirement, but Mr. Wynn has the reputation for getting the best of the best. He doesn't half-step."

Young said Keller's hiring as well as the recent hiring of longtime North Las Vegas police chief Jose Troncoso by Station Casinos reflects the value casino operators place on local knowledge.

"We had seen a trend by (hotels) bringing in federal law enforcement officials to run their security operations, but I think they've found that it's better to hire local law enforcement officials who understand Las Vegas," Young said.

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