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)

FMI: www.lvmpd.com