Police say captain used status to get seat upgrade

Las Vegas police captain and university Regent Stavros Anthony admitted to using his badge to secure upgrades on at least one airline flight, police confirmed Wednesday.

On a July 24 flight to Montreal for a police association conference, Anthony used his position as a police officer to receive a free upgrade to a business-class seat, Las Vegas police Assistant Sheriff Ray Flynn said.

Soliciting free items or upgrades is a violation of Metropolitan Police Department policy.

Anthony was not punished and did not receive a formal written reprimand although the incident was documented, Flynn said. Anthony was instead counseled by Flynn that what he did was wrong.

"He was forthright; he was honest about what occurred," Flynn said. "There is no doubt in my mind he will not do it again."

Anthony declined to comment on the circumstances about the flight, citing department policy that investigations are private.

But he said he felt the anonymous tip that triggered the investigation was politically motivated. Anthony is seeking to run for a Las Vegas City Council seat in 2009.

"It was an anonymous complaint right at the same time that I started saying I was running for City Council, so it was pretty coincidental," Anthony said. "I don't see why else it would happen."

Las Vegas police received the tip on Aug. 21. An investigation revealed that Air Canada had credited Anthony with the upgrade to business class for the flight, Flynn said.

The airline had an empty seat in business class and did not lose money by having Anthony upgraded, according to airline officials, Flynn said.

Flynn said Air Canada officials told police the airline frequently gives free upgrades to police officers.

Anthony admitted to soliciting upgrades on other department-related flights, Flynn said.

Anthony was elected to the Board of Regents, which oversees the state's university system, in 2002.

He was the captain of the Internal Affairs department until last month, when he was named captain of the financial crime bureau.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0440.