Posted on 12/31/2010 8:12:10 AM PST by redreno
In the first test of the county’s new rules for reviewing police-involved deaths, officers connected with the Dec. 11 death of a suspect who was shot with a Taser are refusing to cooperate with investigators.
Their refusal to make voluntary statements to Metro’s Force Investigation Team is on the advice of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, said Chris Collins, president of the officers union. From Collins’ standpoint, not only is the officers’ refusal to cooperate the right thing to do, it marks the beginning of the end of the coroner’s inquest system.
The system, in use for 40 years, has come under fire in the wake of controversial shootings involving Metro officers, prompting Clark County commissioners to undertake a revision of the ordinance that lays the ground rules for the courtlike hearings.
“We believe the process to examine (the inquest system) and change the ordinance was the first nail in the coffin,” Collins said. “And I’m going to finish nailing it shut.”
(Excerpt) Read more at lasvegassun.com ...
Great way to (re)build the public trust, LEOs...
Yes, of course, police should be able to murder at will.
My brother-in-law is a retired cop who had to watch his best buddy die in a gunfight with drug dealers. He arrested the perp without killing him, though he could have done so and nobody would even have asked any questions. It’s the kind of restraint and professionalism missing from too many of today’s police. Shame, especially, to the Police unions for supporting murder.
If they want to act like criminals and clam up, treat them like criminals and FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES! What would a citizen be charged with under the circumstances? File those charges, and then add “under color of authority.”
It’s incredible that people actually think tasers are non-lethal. What part of dead don’t they understand?
I personally would NEVER voluntarily supply ANY information NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED to provide cannon fodder for some ambulance-chaser.
Fire the sob’s. They have no right to refuse to answer.
Phasers, Tasers, whatever, can't they all be set to stune?
Even the cops know not to talk to cops.
I consider the taser more lethal than a firearm. Why? Because police are a lot less inhibited about tasering than they are about discharging their firearm. It’s just the psychological threshold is a lot lower for the taser. That’s why it was added to their equipment; it’s supposed to be incapacitating yet non-lethal. But the number of deaths from its use seems high. I don’t have stats on that but if anyone has any kind of issue with the electrical conductivity of their heart, the taser can kill that person. Some people may not even know they have that condition, until it’s too late.
Tasers are much less lethal than the alternatives. Many more people were killed with batons, flashlights, and choke holds, not to mention guns.
The problem with the cops refusing to answer questions about their actions is that it significantly erodes trust in Las Vegas law enforcement. Las Vegas cops have recently been involved in more than a few incidences of excessive force (like shooting and killing an unarmed soldier) and for them to start circling the wagons is not a justification to end the coroner’s inquest system, it’s a justification to disband the LVPD.
There are cops and as copied should be belt to a higher standard. If they don’t fire their ass. End of problem.
Yet try that with the cops and you will be hauled down and put in jail or beaten and tased.
Kill someone and see if you can just say nothing as these cops.
One would think that they are required to make complete and sworn reports as part of their job.
They have every right. The Fifth Amendment for one, NRS 289 for another. They provided full statements in the initial investigation and have every right to accept legal counsel and guidance from their union. That said, if they are found guilty, they should lose their jobs and face whatever other criminal/civil penalties the law provides for. In the interests of full disclosure, I am a Nevada cop and Chris Collins is a friend of mine. I am NOT with LVMPD.
They gave statements to their supervisors, which can be used in an inquest; they also go through an administrative examination of the incident, which cannot be used in the inquest.”
Both you & my wife have the most thankless jobs in the state. However, Thank you! To both you & my wife!
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