Golden Sun eXtra Your Local News Source, Mohave County, AZ

Las Vegas Metro Police Sheriff Doug Gillespie listens to the complaints and questions about recent officer-involved shootings in southern Nevada. He doesn’t want the public to jump to conclusions.

Gillespie asked for the patience and trust of Nevadans wondering whether officers are justified when pulling the trigger in the line of duty.

He did not address specific cases, but the address comes as the controversy builds over the shooting of a West Point graduate outside a Costco store in Summerlin.

Gillespie said the split-second decision to use deadly force is by far the most difficult and far-reaching one that you make.

There have been five officer-involved shootings in the past 34 days, Gillespie said, and 17 this year. Two have been fatal.

The family of Erik Scott, 39, said, he was carrying a gun, but he had a concealed firearm permit and was not a threat to officers. Scott’s father, Bill Scott, said he believes police were too quick to shoot.

A coroner’s inquest into the shooting is scheduled for September, and Gillespie said he would wait until then to address the shooting.

Sheriff Gillespie said there will be a fair investigation into Erik Scott’s death. The LVMPD is here to serve you. We are your police department. We want and need your trust, he said.

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