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Poll: Police support positive
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jeff scheid/las vegas review-journal
Las Vegas police officer Tim Frederick checks his rifle before starting his shift Friday at the Downtown Area Command. Despite the controversy surrounding two recent fatal police shootings, 59 percent of county voters say the Metropolitan Police Department is doing a good or excellent job, according to a poll by the Las Vegas Review-Journal/8NewsNow. » Buy this photo
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Sheriff Doug Gillespie said he focuses on the negative numbers during polling -- in this case the 10 percent who picked poor -- because "that's truly the percentage of the population that doesn't believe you're doing a good job.''
© 2010 LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Controversial incidents and deadly officer-involved confrontations have plagued the Metropolitan Police Department in recent months but the agency retains the confidence of most Clark County voters, with 59 percent of respondents in a new Las Vegas Review-Journal/8NewsNow poll saying it does a good or excellent job.
The poll was conducted this week, days after a coroner's inquest jury found Las Vegas police officer Bryan Yant was justified in fatally shooting Trevon Cole during a drug raid. An inquest is scheduled next month in the death of Erik Scott, who was shot in July by three officers outside a Summerlin Costco store.
Brad Coker, who ran the random-sample survey for Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, said approval ratings for police agencies generally hover in the mid-60s, though the recent public outcry over the shootings could have pulled down the department's numbers.
"It's a positive rating, but it's a little below average," Coker said.
Maggie McLetchie, with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the poll numbers show a sizable chunk of locals don't think highly of the agency.
"At first blush it seems like it's positive, but in reality, 40 percent of the public views Metro's performance as poor or fair, which I don't think is positive," she said.
Of the 405 registered county voters who participated in the poll, 30 percent said the department's performance was fair and 10 percent rated it poor. The poll had a 5 percentage point margin of error.
McLetchie said most Las Vegas police officers are doing the right thing, but her office has been "suddenly hearing a lot more concerns about Metro's performance."
Sheriff Doug Gillespie said he focuses on the negative numbers during polling -- in this case the 10 percent who picked poor -- because "that's truly the percentage of the population that doesn't believe you're doing a good job.''
He said the 10 percent "poor" rating is about what he would expect for any police department.
"I don't see that as being a bad number," he said.
In the poll, Republicans had the highest opinion of the Police Department, with 71 percent calling its performance excellent or good. Democrats had the lowest with 50 percent, and independents split the difference with 59 percent.
Many in the public have criticized Gillespie and his department during a string of high-profile incidents that began 15 months ago with the death of police officer James Manor.
He was driving more than 100 mph on Flamingo Road to a call when his patrol car smashed a pickup that turned left into its path. Gillespie initially said the car's lights and sirens were on, and the pickup driver was arrested on a drunken driving charge.
Investigators later determined the car's lights and sirens were not activated and all charges were dropped against the driver, who received a $120,000 settlement from the department.
In June, Cole was killed when Yant's narcotics squad raided his apartment after buying $840 of marijuana from him. Cole was unarmed, but Yant said he fired when Cole raised his arms like he had a gun in a darkened bathroom.
A month later, three Las Vegas police officers shot and killed Scott as he walked from the Costco following a confrontation with store employees. The employees reported that Scott was armed with a handgun and acting erratically.
Police said Scott, who had a concealed weapon permit and carried two pistols, pulled a gun from his waistband in front of the officers, prompting them to fire. Witness accounts differ on that point.
When he attends speaking engagements and community meetings, Gillespie said he gets many questions from concerned citizens about recent incidents and the inquest process. The questions are probing but not antagonistic, he said.
"I don't get the feeling when I'm engaged with the community that it's an anti-Metro feeling," Gillespie said.
He will continue to make public appearances, saying it's important to remain accessible to the public during difficult times for his agency.
"I'm not going to hide. Nor is my organization," he said.
Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281.
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I wish I had time to read all the comments, but, the thing that jumped out at me was the mention of the accident between police and pickup... Not even so much the dispute over lights/sirens but the fact that the man was arrested for drunk driving.. the fact that all charges where then dropped, does that mean that he was falsly charged to cover up the lie? I don't care how "brutal" times are, that is dispicable..
@JaneDeaux No one will stop me from writing, they can hit the abuse button if they choose. I would hope the RJ would read the post before removing it. Yes, you and I agree on most things. I however, am one of the dratted Republicans (not Tea Party) and you are a Democrat so often during those discussions we differ. :) I just get so discouraged when I see someone that I feel posts intelligently and from the heart be beaten on by others who obviously have no idea who either of us really are. Again, I agree with your post here... 100%, so maybe our political affiliation does not make such a divisive barrier as some try to imply! Even in these posts, when I feel an injustice is done, I stand up and speak my mind, regardless of the consequences. THEY have most definitely not WON! I meant no disrespect in the stepping away, only wanted to ensure that others knew that I was my own person, and not merely a puppet for your beliefs. It is a sad reflection on human nature in the Valley that anyone feels the need to defend themselves or others from a personal attack on a forum not even about that person. I hope to be able to continue to read your posts, sometimes chuckle, sometimes agree, and always feel comfortable your replies will not be vile or personally attacking! With all that said, I hope that someday soon, Metro will be a force that all of the Valley can be proud of...
@maukflauk, I appreciate your comments....I think... But Here's a thought: Even the implied need to Mention another poster's personal life or "different lifestyles" by a responsible poster like yourself is a Sad reflection of the force of the weapon used against good Citizens by the worst of metro. We'd agree the demonizing of Victims through personal attacks on these blogs is everywhere evident . Simply review comments on Cole and Scott to observe it in Writ Large. No matter the evidence, Cole is an "unemployed drug thug", Scott "unstable and a military shirker"(!!). Seems at least reasonable to wonder if many of the most disturbing posts on the RJ's threads are from rogue officers deploying this tactic against other posters whose views do not echo 100% allegiance to metro's current regime. If dissenting bloggers are not "crackheads", then "prostitutes"..."unstable"....And on. And on. I don't press the 'Abuse' button. I cherish the First Amendment. @maukflauk I've re-read your posts, here and in the Sun. I find no instance where our views are principally at odds, and You've actually agreed with my posts, a time or two. To begin defending me here by stepping away from me first, doesn't mean They've Won...Does it? As it happens, a Victim who's also a wife of decades, a mother of upstanding children, a contributing member of this community, who's been harassed to near extinction, still feels fortunate for the Freedom to post here. Call that a Citizen-Win for Dissent...While it lasts....Thanks maukflauk. Keep writing.
I don't usually agree with JaneDeaux and I have never sided with pmmart in his comments. This story is about how Las Vegas feels about the police department. Sorry, I am not a police hater by any means, I have gotten deserved tickets, and never had a problem with the police. Yet... my confidence in the police force is way down. I find it sad that I have allowed my feelings for the Yant situation to overflow on the rest of the force, but, it has indeed done that. For those of you that are attacking Jane because of the crimes against her, I have read her comments for DAYS and she has tried to explain that she felt victimized by the system in a Victim/Witness situation. From what I gather, she has been victimized by the very people she was counting on to help her? I don't know Jane so I would NEVER presume to know what is wrong or right in her life. Regardless of her personal situation, it is MY confidence in our justice system that concerns me. pmmart is quick to vilify anyone who does not agree with his opinion of law enforcement. I am not YOUNG although I am not as old as he. However, he seems to be one of those old codgers who can't see beyond his own narrow mind.... as the years pass in my life, I hope that I never become so set in my ways as to not understand that different people have different lifestyles and opinions.
Suggestion for a new motto on Metro cars, "An officer will not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who do." Of course they would have to believe it, but that simple phrase may help to fix the moral compass of Metro which currently appears to be adrift.
pmmart, this continues to astonish readers of this blog and others where it's appeared: only in Las Vegas is the Victim of multiple crimes Blamed...for being the victim of multiple crimes. A bit like the old stance that the rape victim 'asked for it' or 'had it coming,' Where were THE "DETECTIVES'? Metro has failed repeatedly to come to Thousands of crimes scenes and properly investigate, especially over the last few years. Too busy blogging to be bothered?...Picking a fight with police is neither wanted nor is it the point, The question raised by such professional police neglect in repeat crimes like this one is: Who's metro really working for...on the taxpayer's dime?
Jane My point is simple ... if you have had 7 incidents that require police investigations then you need to change your address or take a long look at the way you conduct yourself!
Please don't consider me as one of your enemies because you don't need another one and I don't want to be yours!
I am 63 yrs. old and have NRVER had any problems with the police [beyond a few traffic issues that I have earned]mostly due to the fact that I haven't given them any reason to have me arrested or harassed.
If you want to pick a fight with the police I'm pretty sure that they will be happy to oblidge you!
Try avoiding trouble for a bit and see how it works for you!
Yeah, that's it. keep attacking one another.
Debating problems, while the problems grow, is a looped behavior pattern.
Police react to the elements. The more erratic the environment, the more harsh police action becomes. They are human beings.
Brutal times yield brutal police action. Period.
U r officially a nut Jane dauex... I have told u before I have been a Realtor in this valley for many years.. I wish I had the capability to be a police officer ...although I have friends in the states that are... I would be happy to short sale your home for you.. As it is most likely upside down....Although I would suspect u were one of the many who took the easy way out and just let it foreclose... And I suspect u have never known anyone in law enforcement personally... Because u pure hatred is bizarre.... I have been pulled over 3 times in 9 years here.. Three tickets 3 different officers.. I wasn't shot by any of them.. Cordial not excessively friendly to me in the situations where I was speeding but that is to be expected... I was doing something wrong. U act like we r in some police state here where they r beating citizens randomly at Starbucks ... Not the case ..... Again I truly believe U R MENTALLY UNSTABLE and need to see a doctor... Seriously no joking... And let me know if u need that short sale.. Because u r mentally unstable I will list ur place for 4% as opposed to te normal 6%
JaneDeaux, at least pmmart goes to work everyday, maybe that's the best he could get in this economy. Thank God we have liberal elitists like you to point out what's wrong with everyone else. While you're buying your coffee from this honest worker, you're probably thinking how wonderful you are and what a low life he is. Oops! Starbucks is your brand, isn't it? No matter, the Starbucks employee is beneath you as well.