A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sergeant, Kevin Menon, faces multiple criminal charges after a grand jury indictment, according to 8 News Now Investigators. He is accused of using illegal tactics to make arrests on the Las Vegas Strip, including nine counts of oppression under color of office.
Internal Affairs believes the fabricated arrests may have aimed to manipulate crime statistics. A complaint filed on May 15 by a representative of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association accused Menon of using "probably illegal tactics" during public interactions. Many of those wrongfully detained were Black, raising concerns about systemic abuse of power, according to 8 News Now.
Grand jury transcripts reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal reveal that Menon's immediate superior, Lieutenant Travis McMurtry, was involved during one of the controversial detentions. Although Menon was a plainclothes officer and shouldn't have been engaging with individuals, he allegedly tried to give suspicious people fake money, resulting in their detention by other officers, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Menon's lieutenant was part of a group text chat where Menon gave commands that made officers uncomfortable. However, Lt. McMurtry testified that he never saw Menon make contact with those involved in the unlawful detainment and claimed he distanced himself once he knew a stop was happening. The involvement of higher-ups in the text chat raises concerns about the extent of misconduct within the specialized unit.
Menon is on unpaid administrative leave with suspended police powers while awaiting his next court date on October 23. The Las Vegas Police Protective Association's involvement in filing the complaint highlights the tension between police accountability and internal support. Officer Rawlin Behunin's choice to report Menon's actions to the union instead of his superiors illustrates the courage and risk of whistleblowing within law enforcement.
