The frantic Police radio calls scramble after Biden tested for COVID

By Emily Goodin, Senior White House Correspondent In Washington D.C.

Published: | Updated:

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Las Vegas police rushed to secure a local hospital and the roads leading to it on the day Joe Biden was diagnosed with COVID. Conspiracy theorists argued the president was sicker than the White House revealed. And local outlets reported that law enforcement and medical teams gathered at Valley Hospital to prepare for Biden's arrival.

Las Vegas police rushed to secure a local hospital and the roads leading to it on the day Joe Biden was diagnosed with COVID. Conspiracy theorists argued the president was sicker than the White House revealed. And local outlets reported that law enforcement and medical teams gathered at Valley Hospital to prepare for Biden's arrival.

President Biden did not seek medical treatment at the hospital but instead went to the airport and departed Las Vegas on Air Force One to self-isolate at his beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware. But police recordings from July 17th, obtained by DailyMail.com, show the hospital was ready to receive the president as law enforcement noted: 'POTUS is 421,' which is police code for a sick or injured person. 'For everyone on the radio. Right now POTUS is 421. He's being seen so we're kind of waiting to see how this is shaping out,' the dispatcher said. 'He's 421 right now. We're just trying to figure out what is going on and we're going to go from there.'

President Biden did not seek medical treatment at the hospital but instead went to the airport and departed Las Vegas on Air Force One to self-isolate at his beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware. But police recordings from July 17th, obtained by DailyMail.com, show the hospital was ready to receive the president as law enforcement noted: 'POTUS is 421,' which is police code for a sick or injured person. 'For everyone on the radio. Right now POTUS is 421. He's being seen so we're kind of waiting to see how this is shaping out,' the dispatcher said. 'He's 421 right now. We're just trying to figure out what is going on and we're going to go from there.'

The recording show the frantic, all-hands-on-deck call after law enforcement learned of Biden's diagnosis. Calling for 'any available units to come down to Valley Hospital,' a police officer says on the recording. 'I have four units,' is a response. 'That's not enough,' the dispatcher responds. Additional officers were asked to meet at the 'Valley Hospital ER parking lot. We're going to meet behind the ER entrances, where the ambulances go. There's a little cul-du-sac back there,' is the order given.

The recording show the frantic, all-hands-on-deck call after law enforcement learned of Biden's diagnosis. Calling for 'any available units to come down to Valley Hospital,' a police officer says on the recording. 'I have four units,' is a response. 'That's not enough,' the dispatcher responds. Additional officers were asked to meet at the 'Valley Hospital ER parking lot. We're going to meet behind the ER entrances, where the ambulances go. There's a little cul-du-sac back there,' is the order given.

At the time, Biden was at Lindo Michoacan, a famous Mexican restaurant in downtown Vegas. He greeted patrons and then conducted a radio interview. But then he stayed for another 90 minutes. His next event - speaking at UnidosUS - was canceled. From about 1:40 pm PT - when Biden wrapped his radio interview - to shortly after 3 pm - when the motorcade left, it was unclear why the president remained inside the restaurant.

At the time, Biden was at Lindo Michoacan, a famous Mexican restaurant in downtown Vegas. He greeted patrons and then conducted a radio interview. But then he stayed for another 90 minutes. His next event - speaking at UnidosUS - was canceled. From about 1:40 pm PT - when Biden wrapped his radio interview - to shortly after 3 pm - when the motorcade left, it was unclear why the president remained inside the restaurant.

Mason Van Houweling, CEO of the hospital, told local media they was alerted around 2:15 p.m. about a possible medical issue with the president. 'Didn't have the details around that, but we were ready and stood ready to be able to address any needs that the president needed,' Van Houweling said. He said the hospital team worked with local and state law enforcement to secure the perimeter and also protect patients inside the building along with the president, in case he was brought to the medical center. 'We stood ready,' Van Houweling said. 'We knew we were dealing with more of a medical issue - definitely trauma and any accidents were off the table.'

Mason Van Houweling, CEO of the hospital, told local media they was alerted around 2:15 p.m. about a possible medical issue with the president. 'Didn't have the details around that, but we were ready and stood ready to be able to address any needs that the president needed,' Van Houweling said. He said the hospital team worked with local and state law enforcement to secure the perimeter and also protect patients inside the building along with the president, in case he was brought to the medical center. 'We stood ready,' Van Houweling said. 'We knew we were dealing with more of a medical issue - definitely trauma and any accidents were off the table.'

He said the hospital was in contact with Biden's security team and didn't stand down until Air Force One had left with the president on board. 'There was no medical emergency,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her press briefing on Monday. She noted the president had simply tested positive for COVID. 'People are still testing positive for COVID,' she said.

He said the hospital was in contact with Biden's security team and didn't stand down until Air Force One had left with the president on board. 'There was no medical emergency,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her press briefing on Monday. She noted the president had simply tested positive for COVID. 'People are still testing positive for COVID,' she said.

While Biden was holding at the restaurant, local law enforcement were preparing to move him. The procedure for moving a president involves shutting down roads so a police escort can move the motorcade without any obstacles in the way. As Biden sat at the restaurant, a police call went out for all available units to head to the downtown area. 'Right now,' the dispatcher said, noting 'we are going to shut down everything.'

While Biden was holding at the restaurant, local law enforcement were preparing to move him. The procedure for moving a president involves shutting down roads so a police escort can move the motorcade without any obstacles in the way. As Biden sat at the restaurant, a police call went out for all available units to head to the downtown area. 'Right now,' the dispatcher said, noting 'we are going to shut down everything.'

The dispatcher also noted: 'Secret Service is requesting a code three response,' which is that police code that indicates officers should respond to a call using lights and sirens. From there, the radio traffic directed units where to go and what streets to shut down. 'The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was notified that President Joe Biden was sick on July 17th during his visit to Las Vegas,' law enforcement said in the aftermath. 'We did not know the nature of his illness. As a precaution, LVMPD proactively began to shut down roads leading to UMC Hospital. The Secret Service then advised LVMPD the President was going directly to Harry Reid International Airport and would be leaving Las Vegas.'

The dispatcher also noted: 'Secret Service is requesting a code three response,' which is that police code that indicates officers should respond to a call using lights and sirens. From there, the radio traffic directed units where to go and what streets to shut down. 'The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was notified that President Joe Biden was sick on July 17th during his visit to Las Vegas,' law enforcement said in the aftermath. 'We did not know the nature of his illness. As a precaution, LVMPD proactively began to shut down roads leading to UMC Hospital. The Secret Service then advised LVMPD the President was going directly to Harry Reid International Airport and would be leaving Las Vegas.'

The White House didn't announce Biden's condition publicly until a few minutes before the motorcade left the restaurant. 'President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all his duties fully during that time,' Jean-Pierre said in a statement at the time.

The White House didn't announce Biden's condition publicly until a few minutes before the motorcade left the restaurant. 'President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all his duties fully during that time,' Jean-Pierre said in a statement at the time.

Biden ended up going to the airport for the flight back to the East Coast. He recovered at his beach home and, it was from there, he announced he was stepping down as the Democratic nominee. But, in Las Vegas, police were pleased they had gotten the president safely to his ride home. 'Great work out there,' the dispatcher said as Air Force One was wheels up. 'We put that together ad hoc. Appreciate all the resources coming over. You guys did a fantastic job. It looked like we planned it for weeks.'

Biden ended up going to the airport for the flight back to the East Coast. He recovered at his beach home and, it was from there, he announced he was stepping down as the Democratic nominee. But, in Las Vegas, police were pleased they had gotten the president safely to his ride home. 'Great work out there,' the dispatcher said as Air Force One was wheels up. 'We put that together ad hoc. Appreciate all the resources coming over. You guys did a fantastic job. It looked like we planned it for weeks.'

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PoliticsDelawareJoe BidenLas Vegas