Deputy marshal’s job could be in jeopardy

Cathy Scott

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 10:46 a.m.

Deputy Marshal Tony Williams, a county employee who is supervised by Metro Police, neglected his duty and ignored a judge's order when he failed to evict a man who later murdered his wife, then killed himself, Metro Police Undersheriff Richard Winget said.

On Dec. 23, several hours after being served with a temporary protective order by Williams, Ronald Norman, 34, shot to death his wife, Judy Norman, then turned the gun on himself.

Judy Norman, also 34, had told co-workers and her supervisor at the Clark County Detention Center, which is run by Metro, that the temporary protective order was going to be served and that she was afraid of her husband, a jail source said. On Dec. 12, Judy Norman had filed the temporary protective order with Family Court. Eleven days later, it was formally served to her husband at their home at 1200 Madison Ave. near I Street and Washington Avenue, homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said earlier.

"Someone should have checked on her," the jail source said. "Everybody at the jail knew she was scared. Everybody dropped the ball."

Winget said he wasn't aware that Judy Norman had expressed fear to her supervisor.

Because Williams failed to follow a mandated order by a judge to escort Ronald Norman off the property, he faces administrative discipline, which could result in his termination, Winget said. Also, Family Court, which mandated that Ronald Norman be evicted by the deputy marshal, could charge Williams contempt of court, he said.

"What Williams did was obviously extremely serious," Winget said. "The action to be taken is going to match the seriousness of his infraction."

Metro will recommend to the county the type of discipline Williams should receive. The decision should be made by Friday, Winget said.

"The ultimate decision will be up to the county manager," he said, noting that Williams works for the county but is under the supervision of the jail. "Typically they'll go with the recommendation made by the (Metro) department head."