Embattled police union executive director suspended

The union that represents most Las Vegas police officers has suspended its executive director, Chris Collins, the Review-Journal has learned.

Collins, executive director of the Las Police Protective Association, confirmed Monday to the Review-Journal that he’s been suspended, saying he got a letter.

“I have no idea,” he said when asked why he was suspended. He declined further comment.

Union officials didn’t respond Monday to a request for comment from the Review-Journal.

Among several allegations, Collins is accused in a complaint of misusing union funds in support of unsuccessful Sheriff’s candidate Larry Burns in the 2014 election.

He has publicly clashed with his PPA board members in recent weeks. Collins called a press conference last week to vehemently deny allegations that he’d misappropriated union money, misused his power and concealed information from the board about a poll conducted during the Clark County sheriff’s race.

Details of the union’s internal power struggle are laid out in a March 31 memo that the PPA’s Executive Board of Directors directed the union’s attorney, David Roger, to send to members. It included a petition to remove Collins penned by union treasurer Scott Nicholas.

Specifically, the memorandum says Collins kept the results of a poll under wraps that showed then-candidate Joe Lombardo had a 12-point lead over candidate Larry Burns in the county sheriff’s race. The union then spent $150,000 on a mailer supporting Burns after Collins informed the board that he was unable to find a company willing to do a poll that late in the race, according to the union’s memo.

Last week Collins said he signed off on spending $5,000 on the poll, and that three others agreed with him to shelve the poll’s results if it shows Burns too far behind Lombardo to eke out a win. Those three were attorney Roger, Assistant Executive Director Mark Chaparian and attorney Kathy Collins, also Chris Collins’ wife.

Collins has said the union board agreed to spend $150,000 after a local broadcast news station put out a poll that indicated Burns stood a chance at winning against Lombardo, who would go on to win the race, with 51 percent of the vote to Burns’ 49 percent.

The memo also indicates an unhappiness with Collins’ “failure to publicly oppose” Assembly Bill 182, which would prevent government agencies from paying their employees while they do union work. But Collins has said he has actively spoken to state lawmakers and the governor about his concerns.

The union memo also says Collins has a conflict of interest because he’s married to an attorney who works for the union, alleging that he approves his wife’s salary increases. But Collins said any contracts for his wife or other attorneys need to have board approval and clearly describe the salaries and any raises.

Collins’ tenure with the PPA started in 2002, when he became assistant executive director. He was elected executive director in 2006. Collins began an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department in 1984, according to the union website.

Late Monday afternoon, Collins’ head shot and bio were still on the PPA website.

Despite the union’s internal struggles, Collins appears to have support from other labor officials. Six union leaders and representatives signed a letter of support for Collins last week.

Columnist John L. Smith contributed to this report. Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.