Police union chief vows to fight move to oust him

Keith Paul

Wednesday, April 26, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

Amid audits ordered for the police union's books and insurance plan and a vote last week to remove him as president, Andy Anderson said he plans to address the union board in June in a bid to keep his job.

At a Friday press conference the board of the Police Protective Association announced that it had voted 9-5 on Thursday to remove Anderson, but today he is still the president.

Anderson's removal must pass another vote because eight of the 22 people on the board were missing Thursday.

Audits of the union's books and the self-insured medical plan -- a $17 million-a-year proposition that insures about 8,000 people -- were also announced Friday. Union Vice President Dan Holley said the membership will be kept informed of the audits.

A report on the health insurance fund is expected to be delivered to the union board in the coming days. Board members had a preliminary report on the review done by an independent consultant when they took the vote. Union officials would not reveal what was in the preliminary report.

Holley would not comment Tuesday about the report or the vote to remove Anderson.

Anderson said he will push to keep his job as the police union president -- a post he has held since 1991. He said the move to oust him had more to do about union politics than the insurance issues.

"The vote blind-sided me," he said. "People started calling me asking 'What are you accused of?' I'm not stealing from anybody."

At the Friday press conference, union officials said the vote was not made because of any impropriety.

Some union members were upset earlier this year when the insurance deductable increased from $100 to $150 and the co-pays were increased. The medical plan covers about 3,700 law enforcement related employees -- including Metro Police officers and civilian employees, North Las Vegas Police officers, Mesquite Police officers, Lincoln County sheriff's deputies and Las Vegas marshals -- and about 4,300 dependents.

Metro Police's comptroller, Lois Willis, late last year suggested an audit of the union's health care plan. Willis said Tuesday that because of the current bid to remove the union president, she cannot comment about union issues. But she added it is her understanding an audit is under way.

Anderson said earlier this year that an audit was not necessary, saying the criticism of the health insurance fund was made after the city's failed idea to deconsolidate Metro Police.

But Tuesday he said he wouldn't mind if an audit is done, adding that the books have always been open to the union membership.

"They can go anytime they want down to the accountants' office and look at them," Anderson said.

If the June vote confirms last Thursday's vote to oust him, Anderson said he isn't sure what he would do. He has 27 years on the force and has the option to retire, or he could always go back and be a police officer again.

Keith Paul covers crime and public safety for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4057 or by e-mail at keith@lasvegassun.com