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EDITORIAL
Retain Roger, Gillespie
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A handful of local law enforcement posts are on the November ballot.
Eight-year Republican District Attorney David Roger faces a challenge this year from former deputy district attorney and former District Court judge Don Chairez.
Mr. Chairez argues Mr. Roger's management style has driven away dozens of senior deputy district attorneys. Some of those departed deputies argue Mr. Rogers' "five trial rule" for merit raises, in particular, has caused problems.
But the district attorney's office under David Roger is getting the job done. The bad guys are put away, and the office is untouched by scandal. The fact that a newcomer would face a learning curve is precisely why "not changing horses in mid-stream" and "not fixing what ain't broke" are more than empty cliches. David Roger has earned another term.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Doug Gillespie has seemed snake bit by controversial officer shootings and fatal traffic accidents involving members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as this election has neared. It's to his credit that he hasn't blamed those problems on mysterious outside forces: the sheriff realizes where the buck stops.
His opponent, Laurie Bisch, an officer on Mr. Gillespie's force, shows some courage in making her electoral challenge, and is not overly dainty in her criticisms, blaming morale problems in the department on micromanagement from the top. While Mr. Gillespie has been the most open and forthcoming top cop in years, Ms. Bisch says it hasn't been enough. And she argues the arrangements under which the new police administrative headquarters and the misdemeanor jail were financed and built were not good deals for taxpayers.
Such debate is healthy and should be encouraged. But Ms. Bisch hasn't even made sergeant. Administering a department the size of Metro would be quite a jump from her five-employee side job.
Doug Gillespie worked his way up through the ranks, has wide experience, has been a competent administrator and understands the challenges of negotiating new union contracts in tough economic times. Yes, still more openness is needed. But neither should voters ignore the progress that's been made. We endorse Doug Gillespie for sheriff.
The race to fill the office of constable, Las Vegas township, is between John Bonaventura, who served one term in the state Assembly 15 years ago, and former deputy Peter Gariano, a Henderson city marshal with 21 years of law enforcement experience. Peter Gariano is by far the better choice.
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Dahl is a great man.....the others need to go....
North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Stephen Dahl said 20 percent of people arrested for felonies and gross misdemeanors in his city go unpunished for want of a deputy district attorney. “We dismiss a lot of cases,” he said, and there is a price to pay. This fiscal year, 2,625 felony arrestees were charged in North Las Vegas. Dahl said 539 were dismissed. Most of them, he said, were dismissed “pursuant to statute,” meaning the state failed to meet deadlines, such as holding a plea hearing for a detained person within 72 hours, or a probable cause review within 48 hours. Dahl recounted the case of Nahshun Lomax, 35, who shot to death 31-year-old Tamequa Williams and then himself in late April after he was released from jail on a domestic violence charge. “He had already been in prison and had other violent cases pending, but the case was dismissed,” said Dahl, “because no charges were filed. That weekend he killed her and then himself.” http://lvlegalnews.com/courts/2905.html Why is the RJ trying so hard to cover for known corruption on the part of Sheriff Gillespie and District Attorney David Roger??? I suspect the public is figuring out that these two have concealed the truth about many cover-ups, i.e. Trevon Cole and Eric Scott. This editorial is desperate and transparent.
David Roger NEEDS TO GO. His office consists of a bunch of overpaid, lying losers.
Gillespie is a poor leader. And the results of that poor leadership are painfully clear.
There is NO WAY I am going to Vote for Gillespie. He is a cold heartless Dictator.
Doug Gillespie is a Joke!
Both of them have to go. Gillespie is always late with his reform proposals. Several tragedies have to happen before he is spurred to action. Roger is a tool of the police department who refuses to investigate bad shootings after the inquest process rubber stamps a shooting as justified. Both of them badly undermine the confidence of the citizens that justice will be done.
The law is the handmaiden of justice.
Justice is the handmaiden of the law.
Works both ways. Judge Roy Bean's simpleton court for simpleton citizens.
"The panel included Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie, District Attorney David Roger, a police union representative, a professor and lawyers." Of course Roger is on the panel, as the decision will occur after the election. Where was he hiding during the inquest? The people are supposed to trust the decision as to whether criminal charges should be filed solely to David Roger? Are you kidding me? SHERIFF AND DA With regard to the Coroners Inquests, it's about instructions to the jury regarding "INTENT", and it is a mockery of justice. Make no mistake about it, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer is DAVID ROGER our District Attorney. David is as corrupt as they come. Crime is not down as his commercial states, and the only reason he can state that he wins cases he prosecutes is because he is the king of plea deals. David rarely litigates, unless it is politically advantageous to him, i.e. O.J. Simpson. And then there is all the deals made to those who have contributed generously to his campaign(s), i.e. Paris Hilton, Strip clubs, convicted felons, i.e. Galardi and Rizzolo, and the attorneys who represent them. Follow the money. Ask yourself if David Roger felt O.J. Simpson was important enough for him to litigate personally, why not the recent Eric Scott inquest. David was HIDING, and allowing the Sheriff to dodge those bullets. Now we have a new cover-up in play with the traffic accident involving a metro cop. Metro deliberately misrepresents the truth to the press, stating the teen hit the police cruiser. Not true. Why lie? No sirens or lights? Speeding? The driver came to a complete stop. Was the cop texting? The big question now is why did David Roger not insist that the highway patrol investigate an accident involving Metro. No, our D.A. sends Metro to investigate Metro, and they lie, in hopes no one will notice. Like Mann? Both Gillespie and Roger need to go.
And Then There Is This Example of Justice For Sale: Recently, District Attorney Candidate Don Chairez ran a commercial illustrating how justice within our District Attorney's office is dependent on the amount of money contributed to DA Daivd Roger's campaign, in particular David Chesnoff and Associates (520 S. 4TH ST.). The amount $10,000 from David Chesnoff is conservative as it does not take into account the monies donated through Mrs. Chesnoff and Chesnoff Assocites. To the informed eye, the amount is closer to $50,000. The same situation is true for David Roger's partner in crime Bernie Zadrowski, Dept 14. While most attorney contribute approx. $250.00 the Chesnoff Associates contributions are almost $10,000. Is justice for sale? You betcha. With Bernie and David justice is also dependent on political favors. SNIPPET of Bernie's 2010 Campaign Report David Chesnoff $2000 1-22-10 520 So. 4th St Richard Schonfeld $2000 1-22-10 520 So. 4th St. David Brown $1000 1-22-10 9804 Highridge Dr. Residence Luis J Rojas $250 2-22-10 520 So. 4th St Joseph Momot $500 4-13-10 520 So. 4th St John Momot $2000 4-14-10 520 So. 4th St Michael Sfant $500 5-27-10 520 So. 4th St And what's up with the hundreds of thousands donated to David Roger from strip clubs? Does anyone remember what happened with the Galardi plea deal??? RUMOR HAS IT DAVID ROGER MADE A HOUSE CALL TO THE HOME OF DAVID CHESNOFF (ATTORNEY FOR PARIS HILTON) WHILE SHE WAS GETTING HER HAIR DONE, IN ORDER TO NEGOTIATE THE PLEA DEAL.