DA on emails: Ex-Boulder City police chief did not commit a crime

Former Boulder City Police Chief Thomas Finn did not commit a crime in the case involving requests for emails about a motorcycle gang gathering in Boulder City last year, the Clark County district attorney’s office said Tuesday.

Finn had directed his staff to delete emails that related to the preparation for a gathering of the Mongols, a motorcycle club that was planning a large event in the small community in June 2012.

But after receiving a request for those emails, Finn found a way to dig up the deleted emails.

“At first, the email seemed unusual,” District Attorney Steve Wolfson said about Finn’s request to delete the Mongol-related emails.

“However, when the city actually received a public records request, Finn and the city provided the documents requested. In fact, Finn contacted the city’s IT manager to make sure the backup computer files were searched for emails that may have been deleted from his individual in box.”

According to the district attorney, Finn’s actions showed that he was not trying to destroy public records but rather prevent them from being accidentally circulated.

City Manager David Fraser fired Finn on April 15 after the police chief returned from 12 weeks of medical leave. The city did not give a reason for the termination.

Finn had been the police chief since March 2006.

The Boulder City Review contributed to this report. Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.