Editorial: Meeting questions head on

Wednesday, July 12, 2006 | 7:17 a.m.

Sheriff Bill Young is not retreating behind closed doors or deferring to his public information staff in response to the unusually high number of police shootings so far this year.

He is giving interviews and even acknowledging that a federal review of the shootings would be helpful. During a Monday interview on "Face to Face With Jon Ralston," the Las Vegas Sun's TV news show that airs on Cox cable channel 19, Young said he would welcome an investigation by the FBI.

The sheriff cautioned against a "rush to judgment" and said each incident goes through "painstaking" internal scrutiny. But he also said the more eyes on these cases, the better. "I welcome more review, not less ... The bottom line is that if we are doing something wrong, we need to hold people accountable, and I will while I'm sheriff."

So far this year there have been 19 instances in which Metro Police officers have used their firearms (as opposed to stun guns) against suspects, resulting in the deaths of nine suspects. In contrast, nine suspects were killed in all of 2005 as the result of Metro officers using their firearms 13 times.

"We have a very, very young police department," Young said, suggesting that inexperience may be a factor contributing to the escalation of some incidents.

There is a reason that we trust in Young's sincerity when he says the shootings will be fairly analyzed. In addition to inviting outside reviews of his department's performance, Young also supports a major change to the coroner inquest system, which is a formal hearing on every officer-involved fatal shooting.

Facts are presented to a jury and the involved officer gives testimony. Omitted, however, is the opportunity for anyone to speak on behalf of the person killed by the officer. Young supports adding that opportunity to the inquest system, and has said he would be willing to appear before the Legislature and argue the need for it.

On Tuesday, following Young's televised remarks, the Clark County Commission directed its staff to study the inquest system and report back on possible changes.

We appreciate Young's willingness to be open about his department, to invite fair reviews of its performance and to use his influence in advocating for needed changes.