Firing of officers upheld

Friday, Dec. 27, 2002 | 9:02 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A state hearing officer has ruled there was sufficient evidence and reason to fire two UNLV police officers who falsified their time records to show they were on the job when they were absent.

In a decision made public Thursday, hearing officer Daniel Hussey upheld the dismissal of Sgt. Brian Keith Dias and Officer William Lee Mason Sr.

"If an officer is dishonest and not credible he is no longer effective," Hussey said. "He is of no use to the department and in fact becomes a burden, disgracing not only himself but (bringing) into disrepute the department and other officers.

"If one could not trust law enforcement, the American system of justice would break down."

While working the night shift at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the two campus police officers took turns covering for each other so that they could leave work early and still get paid for that time, officials alleged.

Concerns arose at UNLV after a campus rape was reported on Aug. 30, 2001, and only one officer was available to respond.

"When officers are not on the job, they are not protecting fellow employees or the public from danger," Hussey said.

Dias was charged with 23 violations and Mason with 11. Both denied any misconduct at the personnel hearing but admitted there were discrepancies in the records.

The two officers said they were not dishonest and were just making up for other hours of work that they had not recorded because of limits on overtime.

Hussey said the two recorded the largest amount of overtime in their department.