Police chief agrees to idea of citizens review board

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

North Las Vegas Police Chief Joey Tillmon said Wednesday he would support the creation of a citizens review board to investigate officer-involved shootings.

That's music to the ears of Gary Peck, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union, who called a press conference to address alleged civil rights violations, misconduct and racial profiling in the city's police department.

Peck joined Gene Collins of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter, and other community activists to address "huge" problems within the department.

When pressed for specifics, Peck said he was referring to recent "questionable" high-profile officer-involved shootings.

Peck then ticked off details of the five shootings that have occurred this year:

Paz Lopez said he was shot while lying on the ground unarmed.

Acosta resigned in May after a use-of-force board ruled on his actions. The details of the ruling were not released.

He is awaiting trial on charges of first-degree kidnapping, burglary, attempted robbery, coercion and attempted extortionate collection of a debt, all with a deadly weapon.

Weatherspoon is the uncle of a 22-year-old man accused in the June shooting of a Metro Police officer -- a fact police said is just a coincidence.

A Clark County coroner's inquest jury deliberated about 25 minutes before deciding Officers Wayne Blackard, 28, and Christopher Corrado, 30, were justified when they shot and killed Weatherspoon.

Snyder was vindicated at a coroner's inquest, but two jurors said his actions in the fatal shooting of a driver in September were criminal.

Peck said he has been receiving complaints of use of force by North Las Vegas citizens at least twice a month since he came to the ACLU four years ago.

"It seems to have gotten worse in the past year or two," he said.

The department, according to its own statistics, has had 18 officer-related shootings since 1995, including five this year, two in 1998, three in 1997, three in 1996 and five in 1995.

Four lawsuits were filed as a result, alleging civil rights violations and excessive force, City Attorney Sean McGowan said. Two were dismissed by a judge, one is on appeal and two are pending.

Peck blasted the city's policy of handling officer-involved shootings and called for a citizens review board. When an officer is involved in a shooting, the police department takes the matter to a review board made up of police officers. The case is considered an internal investigation, and the findings are not made public.

The Metro Police Department requires all officer-related shootings go through a use-of-force board, which include a majority of citizens. The findings of the board are released, but the discipline is normally not released unless the officer is fired.

Tillmon said a review board sounds like a good idea, adding that if Peck had concerns he should have spoken with him first. In fact, Tillmon said he has already met with Henderson Police Chief Michael Mayberry and Sheriff Jerry Keller to discuss a review board.

He blamed the press conference on disgruntled employees and other North Las Vegas citizens who he said have an ax to grind.

Mayor Michael Montandon said he felt ambushed because the press conference was scheduled during the council meeting, so he and others could not attend.

"Statistics are clear that there are not major problems," he said. "If Peck had an issue, he could call me. If anyone thought there was a real issue, they would have called me instead of choosing a grand-standing format."

Peck also called on the city to support Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, in his legislation against racial profiling.

Williams, who authored a bill that created the citizen review board in Las Vegas, said racial profiling is a problem across the nation. He did not offer any statistics, but said he encounters North Las Vegas citizens every day who say they are victims.

"Racial profiling exists in North Las Vegas," he said. "I call it driving while black or brown."