Readers strike back at columnist about deaths of police officers

Metro Sgt. Ray Reyes took exception to Wednesday's column on the aftermath of the death of officer Milburn "Millie" Beitel, who was driving fast and not wearing a seat belt when he rolled his police cruiser on Oct. 7 and suffered fatal injuries.

An investigation has determined Beitel was traveling northbound on Nellis Boulevard near Washington Avenue at 71 mph in a posted 45 mph zone. The vehicle was not on a call and wasn't using its lights and sirens.

Just five months ago, officer James Manor died of injuries suffered when his patrol car, traveling 109 mph, hit a civilian vehicle. Manor was responding to a call, but wasn't wearing a seat belt and wasn't using his lights and sirens.

Reyes, a 17-year veteran who has spent his career in patrol cars, writes, "Early on in field training it has been taught (by some field training officers) that it is tactically sound not to wear a seat belt (more so when driving slowly) as it can be a hindrance if and when you need to exit quickly, i.e. if a suspect were to approach the car in an attempt to ambush you. If an officer is conducting slow patrol in a downtown alley, then suddenly witnesses a criminal act."

The veteran officer describes the patrol car as the cop's office.

"There is a lot to do in that car besides driving," Reyes writes. "Understand that operating a patrol vehicle is an exercise in multitasking. Consider an officer has to monitor/talk on the radio, use his mobile computer terminal, look for crime, find addresses, answer his phone, drive safely and do so when he/she is outfitted with over 25 pounds of uncomfortable gear. Sometimes they forget to put it on with all that happening.

"I am not excusing Officer's driving habits but no one truly knows why Milli was driving 71 mph in a 45 mph zone. I could speculate and say he might have spotted a vehicle used in the commission of a crime and was trying to catch up and/or a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed which could turn out to be a drunk driver, a wanted person, an unlicensed driver, juveniles who stole a car or any host of possibilities. ...

"Please don't dishonor these Officers by saying we should not recognize their efforts as heroic."

(For more responses, check my blog at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.)

NUCLEAR WORKERS: THEY PLAYED AN INTEGRAL IN AMERICA'S COLD WAR EFFORT AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE, AND NOW A GENERATION OF DEDICATED NUCLEAR WEAPONS WORKERS IS AT LAST RECEIVING SOME RESPECT.

On Oct. 30 at the Atomic Testing Museum at 755 E. Flamingo Road, a ceremony will take place marking the first National Day of Remembrance for Nuclear Weapons Workers.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rep. Shelley Berkley and Rep. Dina Titus are on the guest list along with Energy and Labor department officials for an event scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

'BRONX' BOUQUETS: NOW THIS IS MY KIND OF BRONX CHEER. PARTIAL PROCEEDS OF TICKET SALES FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY'S PERFORMANCES OF CHAZZ PALMINTERI'S "A BRONX TALE" AT THE VENETIAN ARE BENEFITING THE CANDLELIGHTERS CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION OF NEVADA.

MADDUX MATCH: You couldn't have gotten a hit off pitching legend Greg Maddux during his storied baseball career, but can you beat him at golf?

A round with Maddux at the Cascata Golf Club is available to the highest eBay bidder with proceeds to benefit the Lied Discovery Children's Museum and the Greg Maddux Foundation. (Go to eBay and search for "Greg Maddux Golf.")

The bidding starts at $10,000, but comes with official bragging rights. All you have to do is beat Maddux, who regularly shoots in the 70s.

BOXING BENEFIT: SPEAKING OF GUYS YOU CAN'T HIT, BOXING GREATS ZAB JUDAH AND RON JOHNSON ARE SET TO PARTICIPATE IN WORTHY FUNDRAISERS STARTING WITH SATURDAY'S 10TH ANNUAL FOUR SEASONS HALLOWEEN RUN FOR CANCER RESEARCH. IT BENEFITS THE NEVADA CANCER INSTITUTE.

On Oct. 31, the boxers will bob and weave their way into the hearts of the kids at the Close to Home 3 Child Development Center at 1085 Betty Lane.

Then, of course, they will proceed to tear their opponents' heads off in a Nov. 6 fight card at the Palms.

ON THE BOULEVARD: CASINO LEGEND JACKIE GAUGHAN, THE KING OF DOWNTOWN, TURNS 89 SATURDAY.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.