Tue, May 26, 2015
Had Retired Rather Than Take A Demotion For His Role In Arranging Flight For Guns N' Roses Lead Guitarist
A Las Vegas police captain has been reinstated with back pay after it was determined he was unfairly disciplined for his role in arranging a helicopter 'fly along' for the lead guitarist of the rock group Guns N' Roses.
Capt. David O'Leary had arranged for the flight for DJ Ashba and his girlfriend in August, 2013, so that the rock star could propose. Ashba had originally asked if O'Leary knew of any private companies that would fly him and his girlfriend to the Grand Canyon so that he could propose. Ashba and O'Leary had become acquainted during an authorized fly-along in January, 2013, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review Journal.
O'Leary, who oversaw the department’s Financial Crimes Bureau, passed along the request to Air Unit officer Ray Horsley, who said that such flights were not allowed by aviation restrictions, but offered to take Ashba for a flight demonstration in a Metro helicopter.
When Ashba thanked O'Leary by name on Twitter, the flight became an issue in a political campaign by Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie for a tax increase to fund more officers. O'Leary eventually retired rather than face a demotion.
But the Nevada Employee-Management Relations Board ruled Friday that O'Leary had been selectively punished for the incident, and Metro police could not prove that any major policies had been violated when the flight was arranged. He has been reinstated at the rank of Captain with a clean record, and is eligible for back pay to December 20, 2013.
(Image via Twitter)
More News
DETRESFA (Distress Phrase) The code word used to designate an emergency phase wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and i>[...]
"General aviation is at the forefront of developing and introducing innovative technologies that will transform the entire aviation industry..." Source: Kyle Martin, Vice President>[...]
Direct Straight line flight between two navigational aids, fixes, points, or any combination thereof. When used by pilots in describing off-airway routes, points defining direct ro>[...]
Aero Linx: Women in Corporate Aviation Women in Corporate Aviation support individuals seeking career advancement and professional development in the business aviation industry. Me>[...]
“We would like to thank the many volunteers that help throughout the year to pull off the event, as well as the several reviewers, judges, and SURVICE staff that provide team>[...]