Metro Police accident settlements top $100,000

Keith Paul

Tuesday, March 26, 2002 | 9 a.m.

Metro Police's fiscal oversight board Monday approved more than $100,000 in payouts to settle three officer-involved accidents and in a separate move extended financial support for an additional six months for officers called to military duty.

The Financial Affairs Committee at its monthly meeting approved a measure sought by Sheriff Jerry Keller to make up the difference in pay between the military salary and the officers' Metro paychecks.

"These men and women are literally putting their lives on the line for each and every one of us," said Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, a member of the committee. "I believe this extension should be indefinite."

Keller said the extended benefits run through the end of September and could be extended, if needed, for those called up through the National Guard or Reserves.

There area currently about 28 Metro officers on active duty, with some recently returning from duty and some recently called, said Doug Spring, Metro's personnel bureau director.

The committee, composed of two City Council members, two county commissioners and one civilian, also approved settlements in three officer-involved accidents.

Metro will pay $27,084 to Troy Dean Walton, whose car was totaled when Officer Chad Betts' partrol car crashed into him. Betts was on his way to a call westbound on Sahara Avenue when a drunken driver southbound on Cimarron Road went through a red light and stopped in the middle of the intersection, police said.

Betts, who had a green light, attempted to stop, but lost control of his police car and hit Walton, who was stopped in his car at the red light on the other side of the intersection.

The board approved a $35,000 payment to Elvie Trujillo for a traffic accident in which Officer Blake Goddard's car struck hers when he was on his way to a burglary call, police said.

Trujillo was northbound on Main Street and was crossing the intersection of Charleston Boulevard at a green light. Goddard, heading to the call, checked the intersection and proceeded against the light, striking Trujillo's car, police said.

Goddard was cited for the accident and given a 10-hour suspension, police said.

Metro will pay $50,000 to Terrence Leier to settle a claim from a 1997 accident involving then Officer Troy Meyer. Leier was driving south on U.S. 95 approaching Lone Mountain Road. Meyer was traveling north on the highway and was attempting to turn left on Lone Mountain Road, police said.

Meyer failed to yield and crashed into Leier. The officer was cited for the accident. He resigned from Metro in 1998, police said.