First police fatality review process set for next month
A new police deadly force review system will debut next month with one of the most high-profile shootings in Las Vegas history.
An inquiry into the Las Vegas police shooting death of Stanley Gibson has lingered for more than a year. But that will change Feb. 28 with Clark County’s first fact-finding hearing into a police-involved death.
Stewart Bell, a former district attorney and District Court judge, was chosen from 15 applicants by county management to preside over the hearing.
The longtime coroner’s inquest process was scrapped by county commissioners this month in favor of the reviews, which probably will not include the officers involved in the deaths. A panel of citizens who rule the death justified, excusable and criminal has been scrapped.
Gibson, 43, a Gulf War veteran, was shot in the head by officer Jesus Arevalo with an AR-15 rifle after his car was boxed in by officers investigating a prowler. He had been unarmed.
Gibson, thought to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and recently hospitalized for hallucinations, had been trying to find his way back to his apartment complex.
His death prompted a federal investigation of the Metropolitan Police Department, sweeping changes to use-of-force policies and a grand jury review.