KTNV ABC,Channel 13,Las Vegas,Nevada,News,Weather,Sports,Entertainment,KTNV.com,Action News .:. Contact 13: Cops On Credit Viewer Response

Contact 13: Cops On Credit Viewer Response

Last week, after months of examining receipts, Contact 13 brought us an exclusive investigation into how local police are spending your tax dollars on department-issued credit cards.

Action News viewers had a lot to say about the subject.

Metro has paid thousands of dollars for one dinner, stayed in high-priced hotel rooms, and even billed donuts to a government grant.

Henderson's Chief of Police treated a small group of people he was relying on for department re-accreditation to a thousand dollar meal.

Yet other Henderson police staffers were reprimanded and forced to partially reimburse the city when they spent $400 at Claim Jumper.

In North Las Vegas, taxpayers threw Neighborhood Watch captains a $3,000 party, complete with entertainment, and they even bought $4,000 in door prizes for a senior crime prevention awareness event.

No one from any police department would talk on camera about their credit card bills.

However, Action News viewers had plenty to say.

Some of you believe our report was petty and out of line.

You think what we exposed is a small price to pay for the valuable service police provide our communities.

But others feel the credit card spending is unwarranted and negligent and believe the credit cards should be taken away.

"John" writes, "Everyone is having to cut back.  Metro should be no different.  I do not object to the dinners, lunches and events... just the prices."

Our story also mentioned Sheriff Gillespie's three-night, $1,200 hotel stay at the Hyatt Regency in Washington D.C.

That was a hot topic for our viewers.

"S" writes, "Have you stayed in Washington D.C. lately?  You would be hard-pressed to find a room for under $300 a night."

And "Sahara" says, "The sheriff of one of the largest police departments in the USA goes to Washington and you expect him to stay at a Budget Suites?"

An "Anonymous" viewer responded, "No one expects him to stay at a place like Budget Suites, however I expect him to set an example and/or not take advantage of my tax money."

Then, there is Metro's $6,000 executive retreat at the Wynn, which went $1,200 over the estimated total.

A viewer asks why the retreat was not held at Metro's own training facility on West Cheyenne, that has ample space and many large classrooms?

And "Laurie" writes, "This should be a big eye opener to the residents of Clark County."

The Sheriff is an elected official, and our government is set up so that he does not report directly to anyone but the voters.

There is no audit or oversight of Metro's credit card spending outside the police department.

As a result of our story, the Metro Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee will start asking questions about the department's credit card spending.

It is expected to be placed on the September agenda.

Click here to read more about the original investigation and the follow-up investigation.