Case against ex-head of police managers union closed quietly

Former Las Vegas police Lt. Paul Page was never charged by police on allegations he misappropriated $38,521 in funds belonging to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Managers and Supervisors Association, the police union he headed.

No case was ever presented to the district attorney’s office because the association was more interested in getting its money reimbursed (and avoiding bad publicity) than in prosecuting him.

An audit of the union’s books concluded some $22,387 were “intentional discrepancies” and another $16,134 were “inappropriate charges.” For instance, Page, a fraud specialist before he became union chairman in 2004, bought computers and luxury office equipment each year, used them at his home and after a year, turned them over to the union.

A settlement between Page and the union was reached, but LVPMSA board chairman Lt. John Paulis couldn’t reveal the sum because of confidentiality clauses. Originally, the union asked for restitution of $51,200.

Page was placed on paid administrative leave in November, and the next month, after 18 years as a police officer, he was approved for disability by the Public Employees’ Retirement System. At one point, he was a member of the PERS board.

In January, the union board, representing 450 sergeants, lieutenants and captains, voted against filing charges again Page.

He is no longer listed as president of the Police and Fire Emerald Society, a nonprofit he also headed. The society’s 2009 Internal Revenue Service form said it’s “made up of active and retired police officers and firefighters who strive to provide the best public service to the Las Vegas community.”

Sheriff Doug Gillespie said even though Page was no longer on the force, an internal affairs Investigation was launched. It concluded June 7 and found Page’s actions were sustained as conduct unbecoming an officer.

Exactly what does that mean?

“If he would seek employment, say with a law enforcement entity, and signed a waiver for them to check his personnel file, that’s part of his personnel file,” Gillespie said.

The union board protected their own, giving Page a break they wouldn’t give an ordinary person. But they didn’t avoid the bad publicity as they had hoped. Nor should they.

THE ODD COUPLE: The lovebirds are back together.

Early in April, John 3:16 Cook came home to his wife, psychic/astrologer/witch, Magickal Marissa after abandoning her 13 months earlier.

And she took him back.

The distinctive North Las Vegas couple separated in March 2010 when, in the middle of the night, Cook left his wife of 22 years and went to Oklahoma with his daughter without telling his wife.

Marissa was almost homeless when I wrote about her in October. Since then, her psychic readings have picked up.

She and Cook had once been advocates for the homeless in Southern Nevada, and she had been close to joining their ranks, unable to pay the rent on her trailer.

Between 1987 and through his final political campaign for North Las Vegas mayor in 2009, the two were among Clark County’s most recognizable and colorful characters.

For them, publicity and recognition were mother’s milk. They thrived on it, sought it, demanded it.

Cook, 78, came back a sick man. He weighs about 100 pounds after losing one-third of his fighting weight, and relies on a wheelchair to go anywhere.

He rarely gets out now, battling the lung cancer he was diagnosed with eight years ago. He can’t afford the clerical collar he once wore. But he can still talk nonstop.

In Oklahoma, his daughter had abused him, using his $1,700 a month in government checks for herself, Cook alleged.

Marissa took her husband back out of compassion.

“That’s what I feel,” she said.

“Marissa saved my life,” Cook said. “Someday they’ll write a story about the odd couple.”

Actually, they already have, many times.

Love, abandonment, compassion and need. A love story for the ages.

Jane Ann Morrison’s column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call her at (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Morrison.