Editorial: Animosity, power play over Metro

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 1999 | 9:20 a.m.

It has been more than 25 years since the city of Las Vegas and Clark County came together to create a single police department, serving citizens who live in both Las Vegas and the unincorporated areas of the county. In that time Metro Police has been successful in bringing about more efficient uses of taxpayer money and manpower to fight crime. An independent audit sought by the Las Vegas City Council found in March that Metro Police was one of the best managed police departments in the nation. Even with the valley's population explosion, crime is down 36 percent over the last five years.

So why, then, would Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald desire to have the city break away from Metro Police and create its own police department? The reasons for this appear to be both political and personal. Even though he isn't the mayor, political observers believe the 34-year-old is the kingmaker at City Hall. Along with his influence over elected officials, McDonald has been making sure his friends and political associates get coveted government jobs on the city's payroll. Adding another fiefdom, such as the establishment of a new city police department, would be a natural progression for McDonald's passion for wielding power.

On the personal side of the equation is McDonald's long-running feud with Clark County Sheriff Jerry Keller. Prior to his retirement in April as a Metro Police officer, as a city councilman McDonald got into public spats with Keller. It was McDonald who sought the outside audit of Metro Police, suggesting that the department was top-heavy in management at the expense of street cops. That audit exploded in McDonald's face, though, giving the department glowing reviews for its organization, staffing, operations, services and finances.

Despite the kudos given to Metro Police by the independent audit, a preliminary study by the city, which was leaked by McDonald last week, suggests that $15 million could be saved if the city breaks away from Metro. But this study would seem to be at odds with common sense. After all, consolidation creates savings for taxpayers by eliminating unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and overlapping services, such as crime labs. The more sensible trend over time has been the consolidation of government services in the valley, since so many needs -- whether it is water, pollution, transportation or police protection -- are best provided regionally.

Secession from Metro Police is a bad idea. It makes no sense to break up an efficiently run police department that has improved public safety. McDonald can be charming and persuasive, but it is hoped that members of the City Council are able to break the Svengali spell he seems to hold over them. They should ask tough questions about any move to secede from Metro and not just roll over for McDonald. Otherwise, McDonald won't be known just as the "shadow mayor," he may also get a new moniker, the "shadow sheriff."