Mayor received death threats before break-in

Keith Paul and Erin Neff

Friday, Oct. 13, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

A Metro Police lieutenant responded to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's home last month not just because of a common auto break-in, but because of previous threats on the mayor's life, Undersheriff Richard Winget told the Sun.

When Goodman saw someone had broken his car window and saw what he thought was a note on Sept. 17 -- a Sunday -- he called Lt. Mike McClary of the intelligence unit.

"Intelligence had been working with (Goodman) and investigating threats that had been made. McClary told the mayor if he had any more problems to give him a call," Winget said. "There had been threats, and we were taking it seriously."

The mayor made the call. McClary came out, saw the note in the car and called for crime scene analysts to come out to check for fingerprints and collect the note.

"In today's society we have to take threats seriously," said Sgt. Christopher Darcy, a Metro spokesman. Details of the threats made against Goodman were not available, but an FBI arrest Thursday shed light on at least one such case.

Jerald Howard Burgess, 63, was arrested after FBI agents recorded a conversation in which Burgess talked to an unidentified source about killing Goodman and former U.S. District Judge Harry Claiborne. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

An angry Goodman lashed out Thursday at published reports suggesting he received special attention from Metro Police after he called.

"I'm the mayor," Goodman said, interrupting a television reporter's question during his weekly press conference. "I'm the mayor of a big city.

"There are cranks out there, and on occasion I receive threats ... to myself and my family," he added.

Goodman said he was disturbed that a month-old report suddenly generated "above the crease" coverage on the front page of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Goodman called Metro on Sept. 17 to report that someone had broken into his Mercedes-Benz some time overnight, leaving what appeared to be a threatening note.

The note turned out to be a receipt or card from a car wash.

"I'm not going to apologize for my actions, and if it happened again, I'd do the same thing," Goodman said.

Goodman said he saw the paper inside the car and rather than touch it, he called police.

"When you see your window broken, you feel violated," Goodman said, leaning over the lectern and directing his searing gaze at the reporter. "I know enough from my law practice to know not to touch anything."

Crime scene analysts were able to lift some fingerprints from the car. They were matched to a man who had previous arrests and he was charged. Blood was recovered from the mayor's car, but Winget said no DNA testing was done on the sample.

Winget said if a citizen reported a series of threats, a detective would talk with that person. The detective also would give the person a business card with a pager number. And if the citizen had something happen on a weekend and the detective was paged, the detective would call.

"Lots of people have problems and cops typically give their card with their pager numbers," Winget said. "The cops normally tell them 'page me if there any more problems.' "

While Goodman said he chooses not to have personal security guarding him at all times, other big-city mayors have personal security.

"I drive my own car, but if I felt that I needed security, it is available to me," he said.

While at City Hall, Goodman and other elected officials and city staff can call upon the services of the deputy city marshals. One marshal sits as a guard during council meetings, and others routinely man the plaza and attend events with the mayor and council.

No city or county official has round-the-clock personal guards.

While Metro is not specifically responsible for providing security guards for public officials, Winget said if there were threats, Metro would work with the elected official to ensure his or her safety.

The mayor said he believes Metro responded correctly.

"Anybody who has a crime committed against them should have it investigated," Goodman said.