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Officers refuse to answer questions in death of man shot with Taser
Las Vegas Sun ^ | Friday, Dec. 31, 2010 | 2 a.m. | By Joe Schoenmann

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: badcopnodonut; banglist; donutwatch; lv; nevada; thepolice
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1 posted on 12/31/2010 8:12:12 AM PST by redreno
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To: redreno

Great way to (re)build the public trust, LEOs...


2 posted on 12/31/2010 8:15:23 AM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: redreno

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.


3 posted on 12/31/2010 8:17:32 AM PST by Westbrook (Having children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: redreno

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.”


4 posted on 12/31/2010 8:17:53 AM PST by coloradan (The US has become a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
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To: redreno

It’s incredible that people actually think tasers are non-lethal. What part of dead don’t they understand?


5 posted on 12/31/2010 8:18:02 AM PST by BuffaloJack (The Recession is officially over. We are now into Obama's Depression.)
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To: redreno
For all the headline stories of single events where something tragic happens to someone, the deaths and injuries to police at the hands of hardened criminals, gang members, illegals, and the rest of the scum of society result now in ambulance-chasers using ANY means possible to generate income from suing the public/taxpayer (that's who pays the mega-million civil suit settlements). Making statements to ANYONE can be used to extract public/taxpayer funds for Lawyers.

I personally would NEVER voluntarily supply ANY information NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED to provide cannon fodder for some ambulance-chaser.

6 posted on 12/31/2010 8:22:55 AM PST by traditional1 ("Don't gotsta worry 'bout no mo'gage, don't gotsta worry 'bout no gas; Obama gonna take care o' me!)
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To: redreno

Fire the sob’s. They have no right to refuse to answer.


7 posted on 12/31/2010 8:24:04 AM PST by org.whodat
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To: BuffaloJack
"people actually think tasers are non-lethal"

Phasers, Tasers, whatever, can't they all be set to stune?

8 posted on 12/31/2010 8:24:27 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: redreno
The Las Vegas police commissioner looks a bit like an old Leonardo DiCaprio

9 posted on 12/31/2010 8:25:11 AM PST by Krankor (When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in any way.)
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To: traditional1
"I personally would NEVER voluntarily supply ANY information NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED to provide cannon fodder for some ambulance-chaser. "

Even the cops know not to talk to cops.

10 posted on 12/31/2010 8:30:17 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: org.whodat
Did you read the article at the link? Or would it matter? For most on these types of threads facts only get in the way:
"Although the officers involved in the incident that ended in the death of 44-year-old Anthony Jones refused to talk to Metro’s investigators, Gillespie said they did cooperate in other ways: 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."

Why would anyone expose themselves on any job to criminal and civil liability without legal representation? They provided their initial statements then lawyered up. Or don't you think the ambulance chasers were throwing business cards at the family at the funeral?
11 posted on 12/31/2010 8:31:49 AM PST by IrishCatholic (No local Communist or Socialist Party Chapter? Join the Democrats, it's the same thing!)
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To: BuffaloJack

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.


12 posted on 12/31/2010 8:39:29 AM PST by 4Runner
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To: BuffaloJack; All
“It’s incredible that people actually think tasers are non-lethal. What part of dead don’t they understand?”

Tasers are much less lethal than the alternatives. Many more people were killed with batons, flashlights, and choke holds, not to mention guns.

13 posted on 12/31/2010 8:39:39 AM PST by marktwain
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To: redreno

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.


14 posted on 12/31/2010 8:39:53 AM PST by MeganC (January 20, 2013 - President Sarah Palin)
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To: IrishCatholic

There are cops and as copied should be belt to a higher standard. If they don’t fire their ass. End of problem.


15 posted on 12/31/2010 8:41:19 AM PST by org.whodat
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To: IrishCatholic

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.


16 posted on 12/31/2010 8:45:44 AM PST by packrat35 (America is rapidly becoming a police state that East Germany could be proud of!)
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To: coloradan
Their refusal to make voluntary statements...

One would think that they are required to make complete and sworn reports as part of their job.

17 posted on 12/31/2010 8:47:10 AM PST by glorgau
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To: org.whodat

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.


18 posted on 12/31/2010 8:48:49 AM PST by Crapgame (What should be taught in our schools? American Exceptionalism, not cultural Marxism...)
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To: glorgau

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.”


19 posted on 12/31/2010 8:59:04 AM PST by redreno (Americans don't go Gault. Americans go Postal.)
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To: Crapgame

Both you & my wife have the most thankless jobs in the state. However, Thank you! To both you & my wife!


20 posted on 12/31/2010 9:02:38 AM PST by redreno (Americans don't go Gault. Americans go Postal.)
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