Editorial: UNLV’s stonewall is harmful

Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.

It is ludicrous that UNLV continues to keep secret the results of a state investigation into a controversial drug raid in March by university police. Last week UNLV would provide only a two-page news release that purported to be a summary of the Nevada Division of Investigation's report. UNLV's statement said the investigation found that university police policies were vague and that there wasn't close supervision and experience in executing warrants.

But a revelation Tuesday about the drug raid provides even more reason why the report should be made public. Now it's been disclosed that subsequent testing of the materials seized has shown that the raid netted hardly any illegal drugs at all. Talk about a reversal. Shortly after the raid the State Peace Officers Council contended that UNLV police "recovered 18 baggies of opium, marijuana and drug paraphernalia" while conducting the search that followed complaints of drug use. So what was the university police's actual haul? For starters, there was no opium. Only four Ecstasy tablets and a minor amount of marijuana were seized.

The raid sparked controversy, in part, because the university police wore combat fatigues and reportedly ordered the campus housing coordinator to open dorm rooms. The new UNLV police chief, Jose Elique, said such a raid couldn't happen again because of new procedures that have been implemented. Despite Elique's assurances, until the report is released for all to see, it will be difficult for the university police to regain the public's confidence. UNLV insists that this is a "personnel matter," which prohibits the release of the independent investigation -- but this simply is a ruse to prevent the public from seeing information that will embarrass the university.