Monday, July 14, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: Prosecute casino workers who commit crimes

To the editor:

It is truly frightening that Bobby Siller of the Gaming Control Board asks for "guidance" from the attorney general (Business section, July 10) on how to regulate casino violence against advantage gamblers.

What "guidance" is needed, other than to start enforcing the laws against the crimes committed by casino employees?

Casino employees who commit crimes -- battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, etc. -- against members of the public should be arrested, criminally prosecuted and lose their right to work in the gaming industry.

Casino managers who instruct their security guards to commit these crimes should suffer the same consequences.

I'm glad the ACLU is now getting involved in this outrage. Perhaps it will be able to persuade some of our public officials to finally do their duty.

It would be a nice change to see the Gaming Control Board do something to protect the public, rather than just protecting the casinos.

AL ROGERS

LAS VEGAS

Proud of Harry

To the editor:

The recent Los Angeles Times article you reprinted headlined, "In Nevada, Reid is the name to know," distorts the great works of Nevada's senior U.S. Sen. Harry Reid.

I have known Sen. Reid since our youth, and he is truly a man of integrity. My relationship with Sen. Reid and his family has been a rewarding experience for me and my family. The vast majority of Nevada citizens are proud of Harry Reid.

In the article, no mention was made of the courageous leadership that Sen. Reid has played as the Senate Democratic whip. No mention was made of the enormous respect that he engenders from his Senate colleagues, both Democratic and Republican.

What is mentioned is that, as a senator from a small state, he has advocated -- more effectively than most other senators in the history of Nevada -- the state's key and important interests, namely gaming, tourism, mining, private land development (while preserving environmental interests), agriculture, ranching and others. For Nevadans, this is what his representation of our state is all about. Yet he never hesitates to place those interests above the best interests of our nation. Sen. Reid's leadership is truly exemplary.

That he and his wife Landra have raised inspired and challenging children, who, together with certain of their spouses, have been successful in reaching the same objectives for their state, should be considered an achievement rather than a conflict of interest. They should be commended, not condemned, for using their professional skills in fighting for the causes for which their father has dedicated his career. That they should be compensated for their efforts is nothing to be ashamed of -- it is the American way.

PATRICK CLARY

LAS VEGAS

Fish fry

To the editor:

Bob Eddy's lobster farm in Mina was the best example of aquaculture in Nevada ("State raids crawfish operation," July 11). Tragically, it was destroyed by our own Nevada Department of Wildlife.

The official reason for this stupid act was that the lobsters could escape from Mr. Eddy's place and enter other waters to attack so-called native species. But there is no evidence that the lobsters would attack or damage any native species, which have remained unidentified by the wildlife officials. In fact, the Nevada crawfish population is so depleted that they might improve our native waters.

It was a stupid act by the state of Nevada. It destroyed a nationally recognized effort known throughout the lobster industry, from Maine to Florida.

This destructive act demonstrated that misguided environmental idiots are capable of destroying a fledging industry that is innovative and good for Nevada. Next, the wildlife people will invade Las Vegas and confiscate all of the Louisiana crawdads sold in our stores and cooked in our eateries. And guard your tropical fish aquariums and casino fish tanks; they are next.

G.P. DIX

LAS VEGAS

Fair game

To the editor:

Your June 26 news report and your editorial of June 30 accusing the North Las Vegas Police Department of maintaining a double standard on the release of investigative information concerning pending criminal charges against police officers, as compared to the general public, were both decidedly inaccurate and irresponsible.

Your attempt to undermine public confidence in a balanced approach concerning such pending matters, especially when the identity of a child victim must be protected. It is not accurate or fair to accuse the North Las Vegas Police Department of attempting to cover up criminal behavior from within its ranks when it was this same department that presented both cases to the district attorney for prosecution. The city was not covering up anything.

The district attorney, as prosecutor, has greater latitude under the confidentiality provision to release information "pursuant to prosecution" than does the investigative agency. This prosecutor's exception to confidentiality recognizes that many of the details must become available to the public as the prosecutor and the defendant proceed toward a public trial. Labeling the city's strict and early adherence to state law confidentiality provisions as "contorted logic" is nothing more than a wild retaliatory shot at the wrong player in the public policy pipeline.

Finally, you have absolutely no basis to suggest that we authorize the release of such investigative information when the alleged perpetrator is "Joe Six Pack" (your term, not mine), but do not when the alleged perpetrator is a police officer. We treat both cases exactly the same: We follow state law pertaining to the confidentiality of the child victim and deliver appropriate cases to the district attorney for prosecution.

If there ever was an area in which to be vigilant, it is in the protection of child victims of sex crimes. The legal process, and the media's coverage should do everything possible to prevent further victimization. It is with this goal in mind that we will continue to perform our responsibilities.

SEAN T. McGOWAN

LAS VEGAS

The writer is the North Las Vegas city attorney.

In conflict

To the editor:

The governor and attorney general moved quickly in their lawsuit against the legislators over the budget fight. It would be nice if they also moved to get public employees out of the Legislature. If they want to uphold the state constitution on the one hand, they must also uphold it on the other.

BRUCE FEHER

LAS VEGAS