North Las Vegas police union withdraws lawsuit over liaison

North Las Vegas' police union is dropping the civil lawsuit it filed this month against the city over the ousting of the union's labor relations liaison, a position that was held by the union's president.

The city's Police Officers Association still will move forward with a complaint against the city with the state's Employee-Management Relations Board, said Jeffrey Allen, the union's general counsel.

"We have decided to take a long-run approach to this," he said. "We don't want the judge to have to make a quick decision on what is turning out to be a very big issue."

The union contended the city illegally removed Sgt. Terrence McAllister as the group's police labor relations liaison to the city after another North Las Vegas bargaining unit was made official earlier this month. The City Council had voted to recognize the North Las Vegas Police Supervisors Association as the "exclusive bargaining unit" for the city's officers who have the rank of sergeant or lieutenant.

The city argued that McAllister no longer could serve as liaison because he is a supervisor.

The city's response to the union's lawsuit, filed in Clark County District Court, stated that the Employee-Management Relations Board has "exclusive jurisdiction" over the dispute.

The conflict comes at a time when the union is in concession talks with the city to save the jobs of 11 police officers. The city is dealing with a $35 million shortfall through fiscal year 2011-12.

McAllister did not return a call seeking comment Tuesday. The city declined to comment because of the pending complaint.

Mike Yarter, the union's vice president, will serve as liaison in the meantime.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@review
journal.com or 702-383-0285.