Editorial: Don’t keep sheriff, DA in the dark

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

The credibility of former strip club owner Michael Galardi hovers around zero, but nevertheless his serious allegations against some Metro Police officers and prosecutors with the Clark County District Attorney's office demand an accounting.

Galardi made his allegations to the FBI early in its investigation of local political corruption covering the years 1999 to 2003. Galardi was a central suspect and pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering charge in October 2003. Federal prosecutors alleged he bribed public officials to gain advantages for strip clubs he owned. Galardi and former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in connection with the case, are cooperating with the FBI in its ongoing investigation.

News has now broken that during interrogation by the FBI, Galardi alleged that about two dozen Metro officers and county prosecutors received privileges at his clubs, including free lap dances, drinks and sexual favors. Naturally, Sheriff Bill Young and District Attorney David Roger want specific information, including the names of the officers and prosecutors involved. The FBI, however, is only telling them that the allegations were investigated and that none rose to the level of a crime.

Allegations by Galardi are not new. Once before he alleged that the assistant federal attorney assigned to prosecute the corruption case had visited his clubs and had received gifts and comps. The allegations were investigated by the Justice Department but not proven. Nevertheless, a new prosecutor was named.

It may be the same with these new allegations, that they cannot be substantiated. But who will ever know if Metro is not given a chance to conduct its own internal investigation? Certainly, if there is any truth to the allegations, the police officers and prosecutors broke departmental policy and would face discipline. The outcome of an internal probe would allow Metro and the district attorney's office to wash the allegations' stain off their reputations.

"It's very frustrating to us that we don't have the information to conduct an internal inquiry, and we know that this issue is going to linger until we get that information," Undersheriff Doug Gillespie told the Sun. FBI and Justice Department officials say it is against their policies to comment on any information about ongoing investigations that is not part of the public record.

In our view, however, now that the news is out, they should immediately share whatever information they have on the allegations with Metro and the district attorney. Public confidence in law enforcement agencies is critical, as seen last month when voters agreed to pay more in sales taxes so that more police officers could be hired. Anything that would shake that confidence must be investigated, quickly.