Las Vegas, Nevada – When a Las Vegas police officer is involved in a shooting resulting in a fatality, a thorough review process is set in motion. This process includes informing the public, assessing policy changes, and determining any potential charges against the officer. However, when it comes to non-shooting fatalities involving Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the review process isn’t as robust due to its primary focus on firearm-related deaths.
The shift towards enhancing police practices in Las Vegas began following a scathing investigative series by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2011, which highlighted a pattern of shootings and lack of officer accountability. Subsequently, the Las Vegas police department collaborated with the Justice Department on the Collaborative Reform Initiative to address officer-involved shootings and improve accountability. This partnership led to significant policy changes and reforms aimed at reducing the number of shootings.
As a result of these efforts, the number of shootings by Las Vegas police decreased by 37% by the end of 2012, according to a Justice Department assessment. The emphasis on reducing officer-involved shootings and implementing a more detailed review process when such incidents occur has positioned the Las Vegas police department as a leading model for police reform in the state.
In cases where deadly force is used by an officer, a Critical Incident Review Team now scrutinizes the incident, evaluates policy adherence, and provides recommendations for departmental improvements. Additionally, a Force Investigation Team conducts a thorough investigation to determine if the officer’s actions violated any laws, with findings passed on to the district attorney for further review. However, in two restraint-related deaths in 2021, only basic “dead body” reports were completed, omitting in-depth investigations into policy violations.
The handling of non-shooting fatalities by the Clark County District Attorney’s Office drew scrutiny due to a lack of legal opinions on nearly half of the identified cases. The office’s protocol for reviewing police use of force incidents, which requires a detailed investigation to determine any potential criminal charges, has faced criticism for its limited accountability outcomes. Despite rare instances of officers facing charges, the lack of district attorney reviews remains a challenge in holding law enforcement accountable for their actions.
Experts emphasize the importance of accountability in cases involving police use of deadly force, highlighting the need for rigorous reviews and potential policy changes to ensure public safety. The ongoing debate over the adequacy of the review process for non-shooting fatalities underscores the broader issue of transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices.