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Mona Shield Payne
Deputies working under Constable John Bonaventura listen as Commissioners voted in favor of an ordinance to abolish the Las Vegas Township Constable’s Office during the Clark County Commission meeting at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas Tuesday, March 19, 2013.
By Conor Shine (contact) 
Published Tuesday, March 19, 2013 | 12:20 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, March 19, 2013 | 5:30 p.m.
Barring a legal decision to the contrary, the Las Vegas Township Constable’s Office will be abolished in 2015.
The Clark County Commission, after two hours of discussion at their meeting Tuesday, voted unanimously to abolish the office, effective when the term of the current elected constable, John Bonaventura, expires in January 2015.
Bonaventura said the decision, which is not without precedent, was unwise.
"They tried to abolish it once and it didn't work. Now they're trying to abolish it again and it's not going to work," he said.
The primary job of the office is to enforce evictions and serve civil documents such as subpoenas, property liens, court summonses and wage garnishments filed in Las Vegas Township.
Although commissioners have not determined how the duties of the office would be divided among other agencies, most of them likely will fall to the sheriff's civil process section.
Sheriff Doug Gillespie, who attended Tuesday's meeting, said his office could take over the duties but would need more staff and office space. The Las Vegas Constable’s Office currently has 33 deputies and 12 administrative employees.
Commissioners last month introduced the ordinance abolishing the office using powers given to it under state statue.
Since Bonaventura was elected Las Vegas township constable in 2010, the office has been dogged by controversies including allegations of sexual harassment, the filming of a profanity-laced reality television show pilot and engaging in lawsuits against constable’s offices in other jurisdictions.
A last-minute effort to block the commission’s vote failed Monday when a Clark County District Court Judge refused to issue an injunction after Bonaventura filed suit late last week alleging the ordinance was unconstitutional. The judge set an April 30 hearing to consider the validity of the constitutional issues raised in Bonaventura's lawsuit.
The office was abolished previously in 1994 and re-created in 1995 after a badges-for-cash scheme brought down former Las Vegas Constable Don Charleboix.
Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said the decision to abolish the office this time around stems from an effort to provide services more efficiently.
“The office in my mind is no longer necessary. We have a sheriff’s office that can handle it. We have private sector folks that can do it,” she said.
Bonaventura’s office drew some support from several property owners who testified during the public comment that they were pleased with the services provided to them by the constable.
The audience was filled with more than 20 constable’s employees, many in uniform. Several of the employees told the council they were worried about losing their jobs and that they shouldn’t be punished for Bonaventura’s actions.
“At the end of the day we’re just doing our job,” office specialist Tiana Cornell said. “We follow the rules and we get done what needs to get done.”
Great job Clark County Commissioners. One more scourge gone, but a lot more to go. You do have job security as long as you continue to work like this!!!
If they hadn't voted Bobby G out, the office would still be around today. Miss the man.
This can be good considering the present leadership in that office.....BUT.....
He is now a loose cannon until Jan. 2015. Just how much damage is he going to do and end up costing us all. Seems like there is no real way to control this man.
"They tried to abolish it once and it didn't work."
Of course it will work, if by "work" you mean "prevent John Bonaventura from being re-elected by a bunch of ignorant voters who only elected him in the first place because his last name reminded them of a well-known judge." Once he's out, they'll re-establish the office.
Where's the LIKE button?
Apparently the Constables Office could not raise enough campaign donation money for the County commissioners. And this is the result.
This stooge had a good thing going. Then he went on a power trip. The dumbest thing this knucklehead did was allow that dolt Lou Toomin to be filmed talking about his unconventional ways. From there it all went downhill.
The only problem with the Las Vegas Constables office is it has always been a private business rather than a public service. Sure under Bobby G the department successfully stayed off the public radar, but that was only because he made it clear to his Deputies they are not cops and in times of need are expected to be good witnesses not policemen. Instances such as the missed body in the recent eviction occur because the deputy has no interest in catching criminals only getting the locks changed so he or she can move onto the next eviction and get paid per paper completed. ANY government office should pay it's employees based on a salary period and be accountable to it's City or government not free to exercize power in any form it chooses lest it be abolished completely. It is my hope the good deputies, and there are a few, from that office are given preferential hiring at the Sheriff Civil and enjoy the benefits of an hourly wage and true public service. As for the currently elected Constable and all of his buddies he brought with him, good riddance.
Mr. Bonaventura: If you feel the need to have a few cold ones after receiving this news, please take a cab home this time.
This should not be an elected position.
Perhaps Mr. John Bonaventura could save the office if he tendered a resoloution that included his resignation. This thing can still be reversed by the commission.
As for the Office space the Sheriff refered to how about using that space there and simply make a division of your office.
Also I didn't see too many there that could pass the post.
I also liked picture number 9 he was trying to read with his glasses on the top of his head.
What's an "office specialist?" Sounds like somebodies squeeze got a cherry position due to her big boobs. We need constables like we need a proctologist in house.
Is it just me, or does Bonaventure just look creepy? I for one am glad they are getting rid of the office..though it does sadden me that the ones who actually took pride in their job and didn't try to bully others will lose their jobs.
@ Casinokid..as to your comment about him "trying to read with his glasses on the top of his head". I am near-sighted. I can see things much better close up without my glasses on. So Bonaventura probably has the same issue.
Get rid of the Constables office to support the county commissioners 8% raises. An extra $6K for each of them.
Besides that, why does it take egg on the Constables office face for the County Commissioners to realize that agency is no longer needed? This type of budget analyzing should be happening all the time.
Why is anyone looking at this from a money saved perspective? The Constable business, and I say business because that is exactly what it was, always operated in the black. Employees, other than the City workers in the office all paid for their own benefits etc, and didn't make any money unless they produced paperwork. Abolishing this office means we just added 30 plus County employees to Sheriff Civil with full benefit packages. The upside is simply when a Deputy knocks on your door it will be a fully fledged, background investigated, POST certified and trained public servant with a solid chain of command bound by law, policy and procedure. If a murder suspect flees a home he will be pursued and brought to justice before he can hurt anyone else. Anyone who wears a badge and operates under color of authority should be a salaried employee who answers to the public he or she serves. This is a good move.
They did the right thing for the wrong reason. Cutting redundancies should be a top priority for all of government from the feds right on down. You & I, in our private lives, do it all the time. Expecting the same from our elected officials is not unreasonable and should provoke no controversy.
Plain and simple this has to do with the man in charge and not the office. Before anyone starts slamming, consider this. They are only doing this to Las Vegas Township. what about the other 9 or 10? If this office's duties are redundant what about the others constible's offices in clark county. They do exactly the same thing. So why aren't they in this same situation if this is not targeted at the man in charge. I agree this man's actions are not proper, but to hurt the entire office. Most of the deputies are retired or previous law enforcement with at least 10 to 25 years of experience with the same training as METRO. I will also agree you get bad apples in every department. Look at the bozo in Henderson who's SUV caught fire. Should the whole department be penalized for others stupidity?
So this decission must mean all constable offices in the county or its a which hunt for more reasons than one.... how did the pay rise for commissions go?