Settlement of Metro lawsuit approved

A $250,000 settlement of a lawsuit stemming from a July 1991 incident involving sexual misconduct by a then-Metro Police detective toward a young boy was approved Monday by Metro's Fiscal Affairs Committee.

Sheriff Jerry Keller said former juvenile Detective Craig Williamson resigned amid investigations and is currently serving time on criminal charges. The internal handling of the case by department sergeants and administrators later came into question, and several sergeants and other Metro employees were disciplined.

As a result, the boy -- now 18 -- sued the department for its internal handling of the case. The young man's name is being withheld to protect his identity due to the nature of the case.

The settlement was reached in a pretrial conference with a federal magistrate.

Also Monday the committee approved a new four-year contract for Metro Police civilian employees. The contract includes a 2 percent raise this year.

The contract was also approved by the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Civilian Employees.

The wage scale was modified at the low end to allow two new steps at the high end.

As a result a sub-step, with starting salaries 4 percent below the current starting salaries, was created.

A 4 percent increase was added to the end of the salary schedule. Employees who have been at the top of their step range for at least one year will be eligible for the new top step on July 1, 2000, according to the contract.

Salary increases will be 2 percent in the second year, 3.5 percent in the third year and 3.25 percent effective June 22, 2002, the final year of the deal.

The contributions civilian employees pay toward medical benefits will increase at the same rate as the amount paid by the Police Protective Association employees.

Also Monday, the committee approved a $50,000 settlement to Anne White stemming from an accident in which her vehicle was struck in an intersection by a Metro patrol car with its lights flashing, which failed to yield to oncoming traffic.

And Peter Thomas was reappointed chairman of the committee. County Commissioner Dario Herrera was named vice-chairman. Commissioner Lance Malone was absent. Also on the committee are Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese and Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald.

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