County sheriff takeover of constable’s office OK’d

Clark County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement that will allow the sheriff to take over the duties of the abolished Las Vegas Township constable’s office in January.

The memorandum of understanding is part of the county’s plans for when Constable John Bonaventura’s term ends on Jan. 4. Commissioners abolished the office in March 2013, finding it no longer necessary after Bonaventura had a variety of controversies.

Under the plan, the sheriff will take over the duties in 2015 and has the discretion to re-hire current constable deputies or bring new deputies to the operation, which handles evictions and serves court papers. Officials say the goal is a smooth transition with uninterrupted services.

Bonaventura’s 19 deputies are automatically terminated when Bonaventura’s term ends. The agreement allows the sheriff to decide whether to rehire any or all of them. New hires will be sworn law enforcement officers, but they will not be Las Vegas police officers.

The deputies will be paid through the fees generated by the constable’s services — not the Police Department’s budget.

Constable Deputy Chief Dean Lauer, in a brief statement to commissioners, said the employees are “dedicated to making the transition as smooth as possible.” Bonaventura, who wasn’t present at the meeting, didn’t address commissioners.

Under the agreement, the sheriff, through the Metropolitan Police Department, will establish a bureau called the Sheriff’s Ex Officio Constable Bureau to replace what used to be the constable’s office.

Thirteen support staffers who are Clark County employees will keep their jobs and continue to be on the county payroll.

The constable’s office has supported itself through fees collected, though the enterprise fund that handles expenses and collects fees has plummeted under Bonaventura’s administration.

Sheriff Doug Gillespie isn’t running for re-election, and the new sheriff elected in November will be responsible for over overseeing the constable operation after taking office in January. Assistant Sheriff Joe Lombardo and Larry Burns, a retired Metro captain, are running for sheriff.

Deputy Chief Todd Fasulo of the Metropolitan Police Department said the goal is to start planning now so that services will continue without disruptions.

The county’s equipment, which includes computers, will remain at the existing constable office when Metro takes over the operation.

Under the agreement, a new enterprise fund will be started for the transition will likely need seed money from the county to get started.

Bonaventura had a host of high-profile controversies after his election to a first term in 2010. The county and Bonaventura clashed over financial matters, Bonaventura had jurisdictional disputes with neighboring constables, and a proposed reality television pilot with foul-mouthed deputies raised concerns among commissioners after it appeared online.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.