Metro union chief unexpectedly quits

Keith Paul

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 11 a.m.

Metro Police officers' union chief resigned Thursday night, saying it leaves the group in a better position to fight off a rival group challenging for the right to represent street cops and jail guards.

Union executive director Andy Anderson made the surprise announcement during the Police Protective Association's board meeting. With Anderson spending weekdays in Carson City lobbying for Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs, he said we wasn't able to give full attention to the battle with the new police union, Las Vegas Law Enforcement Association.

"We're going through a battle down here and the vice president (Detective Dave Kallas) has been doing a good job, but he needs the power to pull the trigger on decisions," Anderson said.

Kallas has taken over as the executive director of the PPA.

Anderson fought off an attempt by then-PPA Vice President Dan Holley and some board members to remove him as union head in April. Holley and others tried to remove Anderson over concerns the union's self-funded health insurance plan was overpaying for the administration of the plan and other complaints.

Anderson survived the attempt and then removed Holley and board member Sgt. Toby Maldonado, who were his appointees. Several other board members resigned after the failed attempt to remove Anderson and formed the LVLEA.

The LVLEA collected signatures on a petition to act as the union for officers and jail guards, thus leading to a hearing before the Local Government Employee Management Relations Board. Many suspect the board will order a vote of the estimated 1,950 officers and Clark County jail guards to determine which union will represent them during contract talks.

Anderson, who previously announced he would retire in July, said he wants to step aside, claiming the LVLEA has been using him as a target to try to upend the PPA.

"Now they can't use me as a target," Anderson said. "Saving the PPA is more important than Andy Anderson staying on as executive director."

While LVLEA officials were surprised by Anderson's announcement, they claim it doesn't affect their effort to become the collective bargaining union for the officers and jail guards.

"I'm really shocked. I really didn't even think he was going to be leaving in July," said Officer John Yacek, a PPA board member who resigned after trying to remove Anderson from office. Yacek is also one of the founders of LVLEA. "This does nothing to end our concerns."

Yacek said the issue was not specifically with Anderson and was never personal, but problems that led to the founding of the LVLEA came from concern over the PPA's business plan.

Metro's administration has stayed out of the union's power struggle, as they are, by law, not allowed to interfere or try to influence actions of the union. Officials say they will bargain with whichever group is the recognized union. The contract for officers expires June 30.

At the center of nearly a year of union power struggles is the $17 million-a-year health insurance plan that covers about 8,000 cops, guards, some civilians and their dependants.

A Metro audit of the health insurance fund showed there was no wrongdoing but questioned the long-term financial health of the plan.