Officer involved in drive-by shooting wants to become Henderson officer

Henderson city officials confirmed that Christopher Brady is one of 50 people on a list of certified applicants seeking to become corrections officers. Brady has already taken and passed written and physical tests required to make the applicant list.

"Being on the list simply tells you that the individual has the physical ability and the proven written ability to possibly become a corrections officer," said Daryl Moore, the city's human resources officer.

Brady and the others on the list now will be subject to background checks conducted by Henderson investigators, Moore said. Jail administrators eventually will use personal interviews, the background checks and the results of the written and physical tests to determine who will be chosen for the positions.

Brady, 26, and former Las Vegas officer Ron Mortensen, 31, are the targets of a federal grand jury investigation into potential civil rights violations concerning the death of Las Vegan Daniel Mendoza. Mendoza, 21, was shot to death on Dec. 28, 1996, as he stood in front of his home on McKellar Circle.

Within 24 hours of the shooting Brady, a patrol officer and son of a longtime police detective, came forward to say Mortensen had shot Mendoza. Brady admitted he was driving the truck when it was used in the drive-by shooting.

Brady told authorities that he and Mortensen went to the neighborhood off Flamingo Road in the midst of a drunken stupor to "harass dopers and bangers."

Mortensen was convicted in District Court of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During his trial, Mortensen maintained his innocence and said Brady was the gunman.

Brady, the central witness in Mortensen's trial, was never charged and claimed he did not know anyone died in the shooting until news reports the following day.

Brady resigned from the Police Department shortly after Mendoza's shooting.

Brady previously applied for a job as a police officer on the Paiute Indian Reservation but was not hired.

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