Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

North Las Vegas police union sues city over president’s removal

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010 | 5:54 p.m.

The North Las Vegas Police Officers Association is suing the city of North Las Vegas for alleged breach of contract, saying the city unlawfully removed its president from his position.

In the civil case filed Friday in Clark County District Court, the union claims the group’s president and liaison to the city, Terrence McAllister, was told by North Las Vegas City Manager MaryAnn Ustick that he could no longer serve in his position and that he would be reassigned to a job as a patrol sergeant.

At a city council meeting Nov. 3, the city unanimously approved the formation of the North Las Vegas Police Supervisors Association, a bargaining unit that would include only sergeants and lieutenants, separate from the Police Officers Association.

According to court documents, the city allegedly removed the president from his position because the Police Officers Association is only for officers – not supervisory police sergeants like McAllister.

Jeffrey Allen, general counsel for the Police Officers Association, said “it doesn’t work like that.”

“The city can’t just stick its nose into the situation in the union,” Allen said. “The thing that really infuriates me is why the city cares if Terry is leading the POA.”

According to the union’s contract from 2007, Allen said the association gets to have a full-time liaison to the city – its president – at the city's expense. The contract doesn’t say the city gets any role in determining who fills that position, Allen said.

“They don’t like Terry because he fights so hard on behalf of the union,” Allen said of McAllister’s reassignment. “They want somebody they can push around ... To me, this is a slam dunk."

According to legal documents, the union says the amount of damages owed by the city will be “proven at trial.”

Assistant to the City Manager Michelle Bailey-Hedgepeth sent out the city’s statement on the matter Tuesday night, which read, “The City has not been served with a complaint and therefore cannot comment on the case at this time.

“However, the City gave notice to Terrence McAllister that he could no longer function as liaison between the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association (NLVPOA) and the City because he is no longer a member of that bargaining unit. The City has no knowledge of his removal as President of NLVPOA.”

The Police Officers Association and North Las Vegas’ firefighters and teamsters unions have been in talks with city officials about how they can help close a $35.1 million budget hole by July 2012. Under the current budget plan, if no concessions are made, 251 full-time positions would be eliminated. Of those positions, 144 were teamsters, 33 were police officers and 33 were firefighters.

City officials are asking unions to give up pay or other benefits to minimize job losses. So far, only the teamsters have come to an agreement.

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