Ex-Metro cop Blasko dies

Friday, Nov. 29, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

Ex-cop Joseph Charles Blasko died Tuesday at his home in New Harmony, Utah. He was 67.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 45 years will be Saturday at the Southern Utah Mortuary in Cedar City, Utah.

On Sept. 4, 1986, Blasko stood before U.S. District Judge Lloyd George for sentencing for his role in the botched burglary of an upscale Las Vegas furniture store by the "Hole-in-the-Wall Gang."

At the time, Blasko had already served three years on other local charges and was facing more prison time for his capture in the July 4, 1981, attempted heist of Bertha's on East Sahara Ave. -- an event that marked the beginning of the decline of Spilotro.

"I'm tired of embarrassing myself," a contrite Blasko told George, adding that he would work a legitimate job after his release from prison. He apparently kept his word.

Blasko's cooperation with prosecutors in bringing other members of the gang to justice earned him a plea bargain and reduced sentence.

"You were a very competent police officer for many years," George told Blasko before handing down a two-year sentence. "The impact you might have had in our community if you fulfilled your obligations with dignity and honor could have been significant."

Blasko's sentencing prompted Lawrence Leavitt, then a federal prosecutor and a federal magistrate, to say: "This marks the end of the Spilotro era."

Blasko, a Metro Police detective for 18 years, was thrown off the force in 1978 when it was learned he had provided intelligence information to Spilotro.

On June 21, 1986, Spilotro and his brother, Michael Spilotro, were found beaten to death in an Indiana corn field, presumably by mob associates who were angry about Tony's high visibility and legal complications in Las Vegas.

Other Spilotro associates had called Blasko "stupid" for making a deal with federal agents.

"I don't think you are stupid at all," George told Blasko at sentencing. "It is a painful process you have undergone to to discover how completely abused you have been by these people."

Blasko was born Aug. 28, 1935, in Pittsburgh, to Joseph Blasko and Elizabeth Abbott.

He played baseball in the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox organizations and, while he was a police officer, coached Little League in Clark County.

After prison, Blasko worked as a bartender. In his later years, he was an avid fisherman and snow skier.

He is survived by his wife, Diana Blasko of New Harmony; two sons, Keith Blasko of Las Vegas and Michael Blasko of Henderson; one daughter, Jennifer Blasko of Las Vegas; his mother, and one sister, Joanne Krebbs, both of Pittsburgh; and three grandchildren.

Donations can be made in Blasko's memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.