Henderson cop suspended after horseplay leads to hospital

Another Henderson SWAT officer could be in trouble for a gaffe that had nothing to do with police work.

Officer Justin Dera, 35, was suspended last month pending an internal investigation into shenanigans with a SWAT co-worker.

A Henderson police spokesman confirmed Dera’s suspension but wouldn’t provide details, citing “personnel reasons.”

But the Review-Journal has learned that Dera shocked officer Daniel Boskovic with a handheld stun gun, although not a department-issued Taser, while a group of officers clowned around at the office.

Boskovic was briefly hospitalized after the horseplay and missed about a week of work. Reached by phone Friday, he didn’t dispute the incident happened.

“I don’t really want to talk about it,” Boskovic said.

Asked how he was feeling, he said, “I’m good. I’m all right.”

Dera’s suspension was the second head-scratching moment for the Henderson SWAT team this year.

Officer Justin Simo totaled an official SWAT vehicle in February by driving on the rim until the car burst into flames. He was fired in April.

Simo told investigators he was driving home one night when he struck a median. He stopped the car but didn’t see any damage, he said, although investigators later discovered obvious impact damage to the car’s bumper and fender.

A witness who called 911 told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he followed the smoking SUV for at least a mile and a half as sparks shot from the car.

“Hot metal was flying. It looked like something you see in a police chase in a movie where the tire blows and you just keep driving,” he said.

Investigators ruled the fire accidental.

The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, a $50,000 unmarked SWAT vehicle, was a total loss. So was expensive police equipment inside the vehicle, including a computer, tactical equipment and guns.

Investigators estimated the total loss at $60,000.

It was unclear what could happen with the ongoing investigation into the horseplay incident. Dera did not return a call Friday. Henderson public officials weren’t talking, either.

City Manager Jacob Snow declined comment in an email, citing personnel reasons. City Attorney Josh Reid did not return a call, Police Chief Patrick Moers did not respond to calls or emails, and Mayor Andy Hafen did not respond to an email.

Dera joined the department in 2002, and Boskovic joined in 2006.

Dera, Boskovic and Simo were among those honored in 2011 with a “valorous conduct” award at the department’s annual awards ceremony.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Follow @blasky on Twitter.