Officer joining race for sheriff

Keith Paul

Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 | 11:09 a.m.

A veteran Metro Police lieutenant, who is currently fighting a 1996 demotion, on Thursday announced he is running for sheriff.

"I want to rekindle the dream of what being a cop is about," said Lt. Steve Franks, 52, who has been with Metro for 28 years. "A cop is about serving the community. It's more important to help a lady with a flat tire than driving around hoping to find a crook."

Franks said officers will remain diligent in protecting the community, solving crimes and helping with homeland defense after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Still, he said, officers need to be involved with the community and help people whenever possible.

"I think Sheriff (Jerry) Keller has done a wonderful job of opening the department to the community, and I want to continue that," he said.

Franks becomes the second current Metro officer to announce his campaign for the sheriff's job after Keller unexpectedly announced that he would not seek a third term.

Deputy Chief Bill Young has also announced his intention to run for the office.

Franks has worked in patrol, intelligence, narcotics, SWAT and financial crimes units.

Franks was the Southeast Area Command captain in 1996 when he was suspended and demoted after an internal investigation ruled that he forged another captain's signature on an officer's performance report. He is currently appealing his demotion, and the case is in the Nevada Supreme Court.

"I'm sure that is not going to help me, but it was in the past, and I have learned from it," he said.

Franks has been involved in some shootings, including the wounding of a man who police said fired on officers during the 1992 riots in West Las Vegas following the verdicts after the trial of Los Angeles police officers accused of beating Rodney King.

Franks also was involved in two fatal shootings in the 1970s, including the killing of the suspect who shot Officer James R. Rogan in February 1978 during a traffic stop and stood over the wounded officer and continued firing. A Clark County coroner's inquest into both fatal shootings ruled that Franks was justified.