A Shameful Police Association Needs Policing

By Gary Snyder

Lt. Paul Page, the former chairman of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Managers and Supervisors Association is accused of misappropriating tens of thousands of dollars in union funds. One example, Page, the union's chairman since 2004, would buy computers and luxury office equipment annually, use them at his home and, after a year, turn them over to the union. His union placed him on paid administrative leave in November and in January his union members voted against filing a criminal complaint against him. In December after working 18 years as a police officer, the Public Employees’ Retirement System approved Page for disability retirement. No doubt, Page was a member of the PERS board, but now his position with PERS is listed as vacant. His disability has not become public.
Page knows a little something about fraud, since he is a certified fraud specialist. Prior to taking over the full-time job at the union, his assignments included working as a detective with the special investigations and criminal intelligence sections. With what they have paid for lawyers and auditors, the union, which represents 450 sergeants, lieutenants and captains, wants restitution. Despite the union members vote, the new union board chairman said that he remains undecided, after several months, whether to ask for prosecution as the internal investigation continues. (ReviewJournal)