Editorial: Mel Harmon made LV a safer place

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

THANKS to the extraordinary efforts of Mel Harmon, hundreds of dangerous criminals are off the streets of Las Vegas. Twenty-nine of them were sent to death row.

They lost their liberties -- and may have forfeited their lives -- because the hard-working Clark County deputy district attorney knew the alternative would threaten every other Nevadan. In a sense, he personified a warning not to commit crimes.

That's the kind of record Harmon has built in his 29 years in the prosecutor's office. He's been called the best of his profession, full of zeal to protect society from those who would harm others.

And the numbers prove it -- 275 felony cases involving more than 100 murders.

Harmon is the dean of prosecutors and the dream of law enforcement officers who see the grisly effects of crime firsthand. Successful prosecutors need fire in the belly, a religious-like fervor that inspires juries to react. A lack of enthusiasm in the courtroom draws a ho-hum response from jurors in the form of doubts and split votes.

That's why Harmon has been effective. He cares about the outcome and it shows. He believes violent people should be punished for their crimes, and has a strong sense of right and wrong, developed from his lifelong association with the Mormon Church.

In Harmon's high school and junior college days, he enjoyed participating with debate teams which sparked an interest in the legal profession. After graduating from law school, Harmon had a short stint in Utah before taking a deputy DA's position in Las Vegas.

Unlike many other attorneys who view the DA's job as a springboard into a political career, Harmon remained content to concentrate on the demands of his profession, doing the best job he could. And it was quite a job at that.

Harmon's career is living proof that the best police work will come to naught without effective prosecution. It is a vital link in the chain of law enforcement, making the difference between justice and travesty. Harmon kept that link strong throughout his career.

His retirement is unfortunate for Las Vegas. Harmon's dedication will be hard to replace. We hope his career will inspire other young prosecutors and attorneys to imitate him, maintaining a strong deterrent against crime.

We wish him well in his retirement and hope he understands this community is a better place because of his tireless efforts.