Personal gain

The list of Southern Nevada politicians who have used public positions for personal gain is long and familiar to local voters. The worst of the worst, sitting in prison for accepting bribes, are in the minority. The vast majority of the ethically challenged aren’t felons, but eager social climbers who view their taxpayer-funded titles as license to obtain perks that otherwise would be unavailable to them.

Add university regent and Las Vegas police Capt. Stavros Anthony to that list.

Assistant Sheriff Ray Flynn confirmed this week that Mr. Anthony admitted using his position as an officer to secure a free upgrade to a more comfortable business-class seat on a July 24 Air Canada flight to Montreal for a police association conference. Mr. Anthony also admitted using his position to solicit upgrades on other flights related to department business, Mr. Flynn said.

Seeking free meals or other gifts that have monetary value is against Metro policy, but Mr. Anthony won’t be punished or reprimanded for the violation, Mr. Flynn said.

On a wrongdoing scale where former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny rates a 10, Mr. Anthony gets a 2. Air Canada officials told Mr. Flynn that the airline often gives free upgrades to police officers when seats go unpurchased. Only Mr. Anthony’s reputation has suffered harm, here. As the former captain of Internal Affairs and the current captain of the financial crime bureau, Mr. Anthony was well aware that he violated department policy when he asked for and received an expensive airplane seat at no cost.

However, Mr. Anthony seems unaware that as an elected member of the board that oversees Nevada’s public higher education system, he’s subject to greater expectations and scrutiny than he would be if he were only a police captain. In an interview with the Review-Journal’s Lawrence Mower, he refused to discuss the matter, saying department policy entitles him to a secret investigation.

Further, rather than offer his constituents an explanation, he complained that the anonymous tip which prompted the investigation was politically motivated — Mr. Anthony intends to run for a seat on the Las Vegas City Council in 2009.

In September, when first questioned about the allegation, Mr. Anthony told the Review-Journal: “There’s no way I’m going to flash my badge at an airport and get a free flight. The airlines are going to look at me and say, ‘We don’t give out free flights.’ That’s not going to happen.”

Oops.

Mr. Anthony has a master’s degree in political science, and he can’t recognize his obvious errors in judgment or why his superiors and constituents would care about this controversy?

If Mr. Anthony is serious about advancing his political career, he’s going to have to offer voters a much better accounting of his flight to Montreal. He also must clarify his September statement — and why he believes public service entitles him to special treatment.