Ron Williams Las Vegas police lieutenant placed on paid administrative leave

Las Vegas police Lt. Ron Williams, a former Clark County Sheriff's candidate and vocal critic of Sheriff Bill Young, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation into allegations he secretly recorded a lunch conversation with another officer.

Metropolitan Police Department Officer Laurie Bisch filed a complaint with the internal affairs bureau after she learned that a conversation she had with Williams Sept. 21 was secretly recorded at a Port of Subs restaurant in Las Vegas.

In that conversation Bisch is heard making disparaging comments about Undersheriff Doug Gillespie and griping about the Police Department.

The investigation is a priority for the internal affairs bureau, said Assistant Sheriff Ray Flynn, head of law enforcement services, which oversees the bureau.

"It's a priority because of the seriousness of the allegations," he said.

It's unclear how long the investigation will take, Flynn said.

He added that such investigations have taken anywhere from 30 days to six months, though they average about 90 days.

According to the department's policy manual, officers are prohibited from secretly recording conversations between employees unless it's part of an official investigation and approved by the undersheriff.

Bisch came in a close third in the primary election in August behind businessman Jerry Airola.

Her support was sought by both Airola and Gillespie after the election but she quickly decided to endorse Gillespie.

Bisch has said she was surprised Williams invited her to lunch that day because they had little interaction with each other at work and were not friends.

She said she felt compelled to go because he outranked her. She first learned of the tape on Oct. 5 from reporter George Knapp, who called her seeking comment.

Knapp wrote about the incident in Las Vegas City Life.

Two people are heard speaking on the tape, and police believe it is Williams and Bisch talking.

Bisch was off-duty during the lunch and Williams was on duty, she said.

Police are reviewing department records to determine whether Williams was on-duty at the time of the recording.

Williams has denied he ever recorded a conversation he had with Bisch or that anyone ever asked him to record a conversation between them.

He denied having knowledge of the tape.

Williams could not be reached for comment late Monday.