Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Blackeye, Jara to testify to Nevada Senate committees on police policies

Hearing follows concerns over violent video of CCSD officer, Black student

School Safety News Conference

Steve Marcus

Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara responds to a question during a CCSD news conference on school safety at Durango High School Thursday, July 28, 2022. CCSD Police Chief Henry Blackeye is at right.

Clark County School District Police Chief Mike Blackeye will testify about departmental policies at a joint hearing Wednesday of the Nevada Senate Education and Judiciary Committees.

The hearing is to hold a “discussion on policies and procedures used by Clark County School District School Police when responding to disciplinary or other incidents,” according to an agenda posted on the Legislature website.

“As a retired educator, the safety of students, teachers, and support staff is always top of mind for me,” said Senate Education Chair Roberta Lange, D-Las Vegas, in a statement. “We have entrusted the Clark County School District Police Department with keeping our schools safe, and recent incidents have been a significant deviation from that mandate. Senator Scheible and I are holding this hearing to learn more about the Clark County School District Police Department’s policies and what has led to these unacceptable outcomes.

“Additionally, Nevadans feel strongly about what has happened, and it is important that they be able to voice their concerns,” she stated.

In February, students captured cellphone video of a CCSDPD officer slamming a Black teen to the ground and kneeling on his back outside Durango High School.

Blackeye has said that a weapons investigation preceded the incident. The department has not said that a weapon was found that day.

The school district and police department have said the officer, who they have not identified publicly, is on administrative duty away from the public as internal affairs reviews his conduct. The district has otherwise been tight-lipped about the internal investigation.

“Parents and residents in my district are justifiably upset at the way some Clark County School District police officers have interacted with students in our community,” said Senate Judiciary Chair Melanie Scheible, D-Las Vegas. “I look forward to hearing from both the Clark County School District Police Department about how these incidents transpired and policies in place to limit interactions as well as from my constituents and other concerned Nevadans about these incidents.”

The hearing’s agenda shows that CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara is also set to appear. The meeting starts at 1 p.m.

The hearing will take place at the statehouse in Carson City but will be videoconferenced live to Room 4412 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., in Las Vegas. The meeting will also be livestreamed at www.leg.state.nv.us.