A question of police training, oversight

Today the Review-Journal launches a multi-part series on police shootings in Las Vegas -- who gets shot; how the police "culture" impacts these events; how the department and the legal system examine these shootings.

Focusing on a few hundred shootings over two decades -- 142 resulting in deaths -- can have an effect similar to watching a sports "highlights" reel. An impression of nonstop, slam-bang action can be created, when in fact most police officers can go decades without drawing their firearms except at the practice range, diligently serving the public in capacities that rarely involve violence, though all must remember the badge and the uniform do require a constant, extra level of alertness.

Few officers look forward to having to draw and present their firearms. When they do have to fire, it's usually because they have an obligation to protect the lives and safety of law-abiding citizens. The bad guys sometimes give them no real choice, and not much time to make that decision.

That said, readers of the series may not be impressed by the ability of existing Clark County oversight institutions to root out the those who should not be police officers, whose character and behavior make not only the public but other members of the department worry about what they're likely to do next.

Sheriff Doug Gillespie has gone on record advocating that the current coroner's inquest system designed to investigate police shootings be replaced. He's correct -- and the sooner the better. The system has routinely rubber-stamped all police shootings as "justified" -- the many that doubtless are, along with the few that have generated waves of public cynicism and outrage -- with no ability for an attorney representing the surviving family of a decedent to challenge contradictory evidence or testimony, even when fellow officers refuse to fall in line.

And even when Metro's hierarchy does act, the public rarely hears a thing about such internal changes, except through the rumor mill.

Police departments are inherently outnumbered on the streets. Thousands of times, officers go into action alone, before backup can arrive, depending on little more than a command voice and respect for their uniform. Under such circumstances, they can be effective only so long as they can count on public respect and support.

The effort put forth on this project by Review-Journal reporters and editors is unprecedented. We looked at every similar-sized city for which comparable data was available. Police in Southern Nevada shoot more than most police agencies we examined and more often than necessary. It's clear to us that some shootings could have been avoided if the system did more to examine shootings or change policies.

Outside review -- and a willingness on the part of "the brass" and the elected officials who sign the paychecks to provide better officer training and to sometimes change an established way of doing things -- are crucial to maintaining that public respect and support.

Today we launch an effort to stimulate such a discussion.