Sues Clark County to keep office
Suit claims he should’ve been given test waiver
North Las Vegas Constable Robert Eliason is suing Clark County and the executive director of Nevada’s police standards and training board in an attempt to keep his elected office.
“It’s not just Robert Eliason’s job that’s at stake here,” Jeffrey Barr, attorney for Eliason, said Wednesday. “It’s the potential disenfranchisement of 220,000 people in the North Las Vegas township.”
Eliason, a former North Las Vegas city councilman, was elected constable in 2014. But he has been on the job more than two and a half years without getting the required Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification. Eliason made about $103,000 in salary last year, according to county records.
Nevada law requires the constables of North Las Vegas and Henderson to become certified in 18 months or forfeit their office. In that event, the County Commission would fill the vacant seat.
County commissioners considered declaring Eliason’s office vacant during their regular commission meeting last week, but voted to delay a decision for two weeks.
Eliason’s lawsuit asks the Clark County District Court to determine the county does not have authority to declare the constable’s office forfeited.
Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who advocated for waiting to remove Eliason, was stunned to learn of the lawsuit Wednesday.
A county commission agenda for next week’s commission meeting includes an item to consider removing Eliason. Giunchigliani said she wants to hear the item, regardless of the lawsuit.