Police union sues North Las Vegas over hirings

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1999 | 3 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A local police union has filed a lawsuit against North Las Vegas that claims the city was negligent in hiring two men who have been outspoken critics of the union's leadership.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday by the North Las Vegas Police Officers' Association alleges that North Las Vegas was negligent in hiring officer Mike Thomas and former officer John Armstrong and that background checks should have shown the two were not suited to be officers.

The lawsuit also alleges that Thomas and Armstrong repeatedly made false and defamatory statements about the union and its leadership. The union is seeking $10,000 in damages from the city.

"We feel the city has wronged our members by allowing Mr. Thomas and Mr. Armstrong to continue employment and call themselves police officers," said union President Dave Galyen. "This allowed them to continually defame the name of the union and the union members."

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon declined comment Wednesday and said city officials have not had a chance to review the lawsuit. A North Las Vegas police spokesman also declined comment.

"It sounds like the union is saying what we have been saying all along: that the supervision in the Police Department is inadequate," Armstrong said.

Armstrong was fired two years ago after police administrators accused him of inappropriately handling a domestic violence call. An arbitrator ordered the city to rehire Armstrong after reviewing his case, but the city fired Armstrong again in May when a male colleague accused him of sexual harassment. Armstrong denies the charge.

Thomas was fired by the Police Department roughly two years ago amid charges he failed to obey orders. An arbitrator ordered that Thomas be rehired after reviewing his case.

In November, Thomas filed a complaint against Galyen alleging that Galyen tried to run him over with a police vehicle at police headquarters. Galyen denies the charge and said a subsequent police investigation found the allegations to be false.

Thomas later was charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery in connection with a scuffle between him and two detectives investigating the complaint against Galyen. Thomas was acquitted of the charges in July.

In June, Galyen filed a lawsuit accusing Thomas of abuse of process, defamation and invasion of privacy. The case, which is pending, stems from Thomas' allegations that Galyen tried to run him over.