Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

ANSWERS: CLARK COUNTY:

Whispers of buyers remorse at county over Wolfson’s appointment as DA

A whisper of buyer’s remorse was heard in the halls of the Clark County Government Center last week.

The refusal of newly appointed District Attorney Steve Wolfson to prosecute Henderson Police Sgt. Brett Seekatz — the officer caught on tape kicking the head of motorist Adam Greene, who was being held down by five other officers — has county honchos wondering if they picked the right guy for the job.

Why are they doubting themselves?

Wolfson told various media outlets he didn’t seek charges because too much time had lapsed since the Seekatz incident on Oct. 29, 2010. If he had sought misdemeanor charges, a one-year time limit had expired. But the statute of limitations is longer for felony charges of criminal conduct under the color of law.

Wolfson later told Sun columnist Jon Ralston the real reason he didn’t charge the officer is because he didn’t think he could prove“criminal intent” in court.

County commissioners read that as an ominous signal. The Seekatz case is much smaller than the 800-pound gorilla in the room Wolfson faces — officer-involved shootings.

Explain yourself.

It has been well over a year since the last coroner’s inquest, the hearings to examine police shootings that result in death. A lawsuit by the police union has stalled inquests. In December, a federal judge upheld changes in the process, which the union opposes, that would allow an ombudsman to represent victims’ families.

Now, the case is back in state court to determine whether using a justice of the peace to oversee inquests violates the constitutional separation clause.

When that is resolved, inquests will begin anew. In the meantime, however, commissioners are looking to see if Wolfson will do anything about at least one shooting that has already gone through the inquest process.

Which one is that?

The shooting of Trevon Cole by Officer Bryan Yant in mid-2010. Sources say Wolfson told county commissioners he would likely seek some kind of charges against an officer or officers involved in the Cole shooting.

We won’t recount the policing errors made in that case, as they have been recounted numerous times.

Even with those errors, though, now commissioners wonder if Wolfson’s reluctance to do anything about Seekatz means he will be just as reluctant to touch the Cole shooting.

Did Wolfson promise such a thing publicly?

No. Wolfson was one of three finalists to replace David Roger, an elected official who was one year into a four-year term when he quit and took a job as an attorney for the police union. During a lengthy public questioning of candidates, many citizens spoke in favor of John Hunt over Wolfson. Commissioner Lawrence Weekly was the lone vote against Wolfson’s appointment.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani vowed she would hold Wolfson “accountable.” She and other commissioners eked out promises that Wolfson would address the high number of expensive death penalties sought by the DA’s Office, improve communication with the commission and try the new inquest system.

Commissioners were satisfied with his answers, but some also supported Wolfson’s appointment because they believed he would examine closely the possibility of criminal charges against officers involved in fatal incidents.

•••

After the Sun broke the story last week about firefighters shedding 57,000 hours of sick leave over the past two years, a question came up around the water cooler.

The major reason firefighters’ use of sick leave was questioned in the first place was that Commissioner Steve Sisolak pointed out what that he thought were signs of abuse. Sisolak, by the way, is up for re-election, and many expected angry firefighters would find a challenger. So the question: Is anyone going to run against Sisolak?

A: So far, no one has announced. No one in the Clark County Government building has heard of any potential challengers. But we’ll see. Candidates have from March 5 to March 16 to file with the county Elections Department.

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