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FBI conducts child abduction training with local law enforcement

Posted at 7:16 PM, Sep 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-17 03:44:50-04

There was a large police presence in Boulder City Friday, but it was all a training exercise.

The FBI is helping southern Nevada police to improve their response when it comes to child abduction cases.

"It's all about communication," says Aaron Rouse, the special agent-in-charge with FBI Las Vegas.  

Officials say the biggest challenge in Southern Nevada is communication between departments. That's why starting now, they'll start using the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team.  The CARD team is essentially a way for the FBI to have better communication with all the local departments.  

On Friday, law enforcement participated in simulated training. 

"We try to simulate as real a situation as we can," says Deputy Chief Brett Zimmerman, with Metro Police Department.  

Back in May, 22-month-old Anastasia Barletta was taken from her home, after police say, her mother was driven home after getting drunk at a bar. An Amber Alert was sent out to all cell phones, including the suspects, who ended up returning the baby.  

Police say if and when something like this happens again, they'll now have an entire team from across southern Nevada ready to step in. 

"By forming this team, our best practices are coming to the forefront," says Deputy Chief Zimmerman.