LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – There are instances where force is the only option available to police officers, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department policy very clearly defines how, and when, deadly force is considered justifiable.
Metro’s policy states that – quote: “officers may only use such force as is *objectively reasonable*, under all of the circumstances.” We wanted to know what circumstances would lead an officer to fire a deadly shot, and we learned the guidelines give officers much to consider in very little time.
Police calls on officers to gauge the severity of the crime to which they’re responding, to consider whether the person has access to a weapon, and if their escape would pose an immediate threat to the officer and the general public.
Officers also need to make judgment calls about a person’s mental state – to consider whether they may be drunk, high, or mentally unstable, and they have to consider what resources are available to help them de-escalate the situation.
Metro only deems deadly force justified when an officer has exhausted all other options. An investigation will ultimately determine if an officer made the right judgment calls before using their gun.
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