Officers cleared in gunfight in which suspect was wounded

Keith Paul

Friday, March 8, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

Metro Police's use of force board Thursday night cleared three detectives of any wrongdoing for their part in a massive gunfight in November during which a suspect was shot 22 times.

The board voted unanimously that Repeat Offender Program Sgt. Clint Robison and Detectives Brian Debecker and Richard Lanave did not violate the department's use of force policy when they fired at Harry Kondiles, 37, on Nov. 29, Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said.

Kondiles escaped in a car and was pursued by many Metro officers. Kondiles eventually crashed the car and is accused of shooting at officers, who then fired more than 100 shots, hitting Kondiles many times. Eleven other officers face a use of force board hearing later this month.

The three Repeat Offender Program detectives were following Kondiles, who had several warrants for his arrest. Police say as the ROP detectives moved in to arrest Kondiles he rammed their undercover police cars and fired several shots.

The ROP detectives fired at Kondiles, but he escaped.

Other detectives and patrol officers started chasing Kondiles as he drove around northwest streets. Police said Kondiles shot at pursuing patrol officers during the 20-minute high-speed chase before he crashed into a wall.

But as the officers approached the car, police said, Kondiles fired additional shots. The 11 officers fired at the car, hitting Kondiles 22 times, mostly in his arms and legs.

Kondiles was hospitalized at University Medical Center several months before being released on Jan. 25. He is being held in the Clark County jail and faces a variety of charges, including the attempted murder of a police officer.

The other 11 officers involved in the shooting are: patrol Officers Eric Barros, Christopher O'Brien, Gregory Watkins, Paul McCullough, William Pollock, Jason Jennings, Jason Hansen and Ryan Buff, traffic Officer Tony McCleery, Detective Todd Richter and Detective Joseph Herring.

Metro's use of force board, made up of four residents and three officers, reviews officers' actions when someone is killed or seriously hurt by an officer or whenever an officer fires a gun at someone. The board determines whether officers acted within department guidelines.