Voters could decide Metro breakup

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Metro Police's rank-and-file officers and civilian workers were stunned in 1999 to learn that a political whim could break up their department and possibly cost them their jobs.

Apparently the controversial deconsolidation measure reportedly fronted by Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald stunned legislators, too.

Assemblyman Doug Bache, D-Las Vegas, introduced a bill Tuesday that would require voters to approve any breakup of the Metro Police department.

"When Councilman McDonald -- at least that's who everyone says was behind it -- brought up that four members of the council could have voted to dissolve Metro, it was surprising," Bache said. "The enormity of dissolving the Metropolitan Police Department is a decision the people should have to make."

McDonald, a former Metro officer who has been highly critical of Sheriff Jerry Keller and some of the department's budgeting, reportedly asked for a study about whether the city could save money by withdrawing funding from Metro and forming its own force.

Metro Police provides services to the city of Las Vegas and unincorporated areas of Clark County.

When news of the city's internal deconsolidation study hit the press, McDonald denied any involvement. But his council colleagues, including Mayor Oscar Goodman, have subsequently said McDonald was the force behind the attempted breakup.

Since the City Council has seven members, a vote by four could have resulted in the city's withdrawal from Metro.

Bache's bill, co-sponsored by 14 Assembly members and five Southern Nevada senators, would require either Clark County or the city of Las Vegas to hold an election to determine whether it could withdraw from the department.

Voters would have at least six months from the time the city or county notifies them of its intent until the election.

If such a measure receives voter support, the bill requires whichever entity withdraws from Metro to determine which Metro employees must be transferred to the new law enforcement agency.

And any transferred employee must hold positions of rank and grade comparable to their positions with Metro before the breakup. Sick leave, longevity and vacation time would also be transferable.