Candidates for sheriff get heated under glare of TV lights

The race for Clark County sheriff turned feisty Tuesday, with three leading candidates bickering in a televised debate about everything from police shootings to officer morale to the influence of big money casinos over policy.

The spirited debate during a taping of “Ralston Reports” on KSNV-TV, Channel 3, featured Las Vegas police Assistant Sheriff Joseph Lombardo, retired Assistant Sheriff Ted Moody and retired Captain Larry Burns.

Host and moderator Jon Ralston needled the candidates on a variety of topics, among the most prominent being Burns’ handling of a lieutenant’s probation in the aftermath of the controversial 2011 shooting of Gulf War veteran Stanley Gibson.

Critics of Burns say he ignored an order from his boss to extend the probation of Lt. Dave Dockendorf, who worked for Burns, despite the pending internal and criminal investigations into the Gibson shooting. Dockendorf was demoted two ranks after a lengthy internal review concluded last year, but appealed the punishment to an outside arbitrator.

Hours after the debate Tuesday, the Review-Journal learned Dockendorf was partially reinstated to the rank of sergeant.

Moody and other high-ranking officials at the Metropolitan Police Department had speculated Burns’ move could help Dockendorf’s appeal, which Moody said demonstrated Burns’ reluctance to hold officers accountable.

It was not immediately clear whether Dockendorf’s probation status was a factor on the arbitrator’s ruling.

Ralston asked Moody if he was accusing Burns of serving the police unions — Burns received 91 percent of the vote in a union straw poll — instead of the public.

“People are what they do, not what they say. You got to look at the track record,” Moody said.

Burns, who has always been popular among patrol cops, said the allegations were “simply not true.”

He initially extended Dockendorf’s probation, he said, but wouldn’t extend it again six months later. He couldn’t justify a second extension, he said.

“I simply work with a credo: Do what is right, let the consequence follow. Not to be influenced by what is politically expedient for me, or what somebody else might feel is important for me personally,” he said.

He also downplayed his involvement in the process, calling his role “minor.”

Lombardo, who previously declined to talk about Burns and Dockendorf several weeks ago, dove into the topic for the televised debate by joining Moody to criticize Burns.

Dockendorf’s probation should have been extended, he said, adding that Burns’ explanation didn’t wash.

“(Burns) can’t easily say that he wasn’t aware of it, that he came in after the fact. No, you’re fully involved,” Lombardo said.

After Burns’ turn on the hotseat, Ralston turned to Lombardo and asked about his statement at a union-sponsored debate last week during which he said morale at Metro was “probably the worst in its history.”

Ralston asked whether Lombardo shares responsibility for morale because he’s close with outgoing Sheriff Doug Gillespie and his predecessor Bill Young, both of whom have endorsed Lombardo.

“I stand on my own two feet,” Lombardo said, adding that he has great respect for Gillespie. “Friends tend to argue with each other more often than not. And (Gillespie) and I do not see eye to eye on all issues. He didn’t bring me on his staff because I’m a yes man.”

Unlike Gillespie, Lombardo said he wants middle managers at the department to be empowered by the administration, not micromanaged, he said.

“Our supervisors currently have to look over their shoulder constantly. They’re always afraid. They’re asking for permission instead of forgiveness when they’re doing their job,” he said.

Burns said morale wasn’t low at Bolden Area Command, where he last worked before retirement.

“I understand how to lead,” Burns said. “Take a poll (at Bolden), ask them.”

Ralston also said critics accused Moody of portraying himself as a police department outsider despite his extensive experience in Gillespie’s administration.

Moody abruptly retired in July after Gillespie overruled a Use of Force Review Board’s recommendation to fire an officer who shot an unarmed man. Moody revamped and chaired the board, which was previously considered a rubber-stamp process favoring officers.

Ralston asked whether Moody’s public resignation was a show to further his political aspirations.

“I took a stand on principles,” Moody said. “I was the poster boy for a process that I truly believed in, that I still believe in… A quitter would have gone along quietly with an unjust decision and said nothing. That would have been a much easier path for me to take.”

Moody then accused Lombardo, who has a campaign fund that dwarfs his competitors, of trying to distance himself from a “flailing administration” but accepting the money that came with the endorsements from Gillespie and Young.

Lombardo has collected about $500,000 since October, including $10,000 donations from five Station Casinos properties. Young is vice president of security for Station Casinos.

Moody raised about $144,000, although most of that was a $100,000 loan to himself.

“Joe is Doug’s choice,” he said. “When you’re pretty much owned lock, stock and barrel by the number of powerful special interests that also were behind the last sheriff and the one before that, how can you —”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Lombardo interrupted. “Lock, stock and barrel? That’s offensive.”

Lombardo said his campaign contributions were from a broad number of organizations with no special interest.

“There are some very powerful interests behind you, Joe,” Moody shot back.

Lombardo said he knew Moody sent campaign letters asking for contributions to some of the same organizations backing Lombardo.

“You wouldn’t have taken their money, if offered to you?” Ralston asked.

Moody said he wouldn’t have taken money from Langley Productions, the company behind COPS and other police reality shows. The company gave $20,000 to Lombardo and has a long working relationship with Metro.

The primary election is in June. Part two of the debate will air today.

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