Metro cop facing third DUI charge

Jen Lawson

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.

A Metro Police officer who has been charged three times with DUI in the last 18 months and who drove a patrol car while his license was revoked is continuing to collect a paycheck from the department.

Ryan O. McCulloch, 25, a patrol officer in the south central area command, is scheduled to stand trial in Henderson Justice Court later this month in connection with his May off-duty DUI arrest. He was relieved of his duties and is on paid leave after his most recent DUI, on Sept. 28 in Henderson.

An internal investigation is under way, Undersheriff Doug Gillespie said, and McCulloch "could very well be terminated for this offense," he said.

The officer is still receiving a paycheck because the internal investigation has not been completed.

McCulloch was permitted to remain on the force after being arrested twice for drunken driving because his superiors didn't feel he deserved to be fired, Gillespie said.

"He could have been terminated after his second arrest, but we chose not to," he said. "His chain of command did not feel what he did warranted termination.

"We look at these situations and do what we feel is best based on the totality of the circumstances," he said. "It's unfortunate that this happened, but the reality of it is, we are dealing with human beings."

McCulloch's first arrest for DUI came in April 2002, according to police records. He was involved in a minor accident and Metro Police issued him citation.

He received an 80-hour unpaid suspension, which was cut to 40 hours after he completed an alcohol counseling program. The Las Vegas City Attorney's Office declined to file charges in connection with that offense. Brad Jerbic, city attorney, said referred specific questions to an assistant city attorney who could not be reached.

Metro generally tries to help employees with alcohol and drug abuse problems and he was given a second chance, but McCulloch was caught intoxicated behind the wheel again May 18.

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper spotted a vehicle parked on Stephanie Street near Russell Road in Henderson about 5:30 a.m. and found McCulloch asleep in the driver's seat.

The trooper knocked on the window and McCulloch awoke, telling the trooper he was sleeping. He pulled out his wallet and showed the trooper his police badge and said he worked for Metro, the report says.

McCulloch failed a field sobriety test, and a breath test showed his blood- alcohol level was .18, nearly double the legal limit at the time, the report says. He was arrested for being in physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated and booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

As a result of that arrest, his driver's license was revoked July 30. However, Metro officials didn't find out about it until just before his Sept. 28 arrest. McCulloch's lieutenant had been doing periodic checks of the status of his license, Gillespie said.

But by the time officials obtained that information, McCulloch had appealed his license revocation and the Department of Motor Vehicles had issued him a temporary license.

"We do put some trust into the hands of employees to notify us" if they don't have a valid driver's license, Gillespie said.

McCulloch was suspended for 120 hours without pay as a result of that violation.

His most recent arrest was Sept. 28, when a Henderson police officer spotted a vehicle at a green light at Lake Mead Parkway and U.S. 95. The officer found McCulloch asleep behind the wheel. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested.

"When situations like these occur, it doesn't put the department in a good light," Gillespie said. "We have 4,500 employees and they are human beings and thy do make mistakes."

"This is one of over 2,000 police officers," he said. "This is the exception rather than the rule."