LAS VEGAS (KSNV & MyNews3) --The Las Vegas constable continues his damage control after a scandalous YouTube video showing constables deputies in uniform cursing and hamming it up for cameras.
One county commissioner wants to know how a video like this was allowed to be made in the first place and is asking for an apology.
But Constable John Bonaventura says county commissioners have little to no authority over him.
News 3's Mackenzie Warren is staying on the story for us tonight.
“When people are asking me, are they going to come in and fire some people? or are they going to check on you and make sure you're disciplining your officers? They have no authority over that,” said Constable John Bonaventura.
Bonaventura is not afraid of Clark County Commissioners and believes there won't be any recourse from the video showing crass constables, acting badly. Beyond the cursing, commissioners were particularly concerned with constables’ deputies making traffic stops which isn't their job. Bonaventura says just because commissioners don't like it doesn't make it wrong.
“So, if we see something we have to give them a ticket even though that's not our job,” says Bonaventura. In fact, he says not writing the ticket, would make the constables deputy guilty of a misdemeanor. Still, Commissioner Steve Sisolak says the video sends a bad message.
“I’ve had a lot of people afraid of being stopped by a constable now and i think it just sent a very poor message so I think we need to get some answers,” Sisloak explains. Sisolak says he tired of the excuses. “First it was a reality show, then it was a training video, and now it’s a gag reel. I mean what is it? It’s clearly offensive.”
Bonaventura counters, “one little viral video doesn’t show exactly the tone of this office.” He’s vowing to use the video as training on what not to do and says he'll straighten out the behavior in his office. “I’ve been here only a year and in order to clean house, it doesn't happen overnight.”
The bad blood between constables and commissioners opens up other issues that have been simmering. The constable says his office is losing $500-a-day because of an error in a county program operated by a software company. Sisolak agrees with Bonaventura. “It needs to be fixed so instead of trying to point blame and say it’s the county's fault, they need to get together to work with the computer company.”
To Sisolak, it's not about that, but the overall image of the constable. “Instead of trying to come up with justifications or excuses is just say, ‘hey look. it was inappropriate. It wasn't a good reflection on this office and we are making changes.’”
Bonaventura is starting to hear that message. “We have to make sure our employees act in a professional manner that’s what we're trying to do here.”
Before the video, Bonaventura was asking the commission to add two members to his staff. That request is being put on hold pending the audit.
