GUEST
Mike Blasky, police reporter, Las Vegas Review-Journal
BY MARIE ANDRUSEWICZ -- In an “unprecedented” move, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has recommended Officer Jacquar Roston be fired for questionable use of deadly force.
Roston shot a man in the leg while intervening in domestic violence dispute. He used his gun because he mistook shiny material on the man’s hat for a firearm.
Up until now the story hasn’t gotten much press, says Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Mike Blasky.
“This is not one of those Stanley Gibson type shootings, or Trevon Cole, or Erik Scott where there’s been days and days of media coverage. This one slipped through the cracks for several reasons, mostly because we never received information on who (the man shot) was.”
Blasky says the move to fire the officer is a result of the Use of Force Board changing their procedures following a Justice Department investigation into the LVMPD’s policies. He says the Board now looks at the decisions leading up to use of force, rather than the exact moment the officer fired his gun.
“From what I heard from the Use of Force Board – which is not a public meeting, so I don’t know exactly what was said – they were very critical of Roston’s decision making leading up to this event,” says Blasky. “It was a slow-moving situation and there was no reason in the Use of Force Board’s mind to use deadly force in that situation. They were very critical and they have recommended him for termination.”
Blasky says ultimately Sheriff Doug Gillespie will determine whether or not Roston remains with Metro.