Officer suspended for four weeks after fatal traffic accident

Metro Police Officer Edward V. Jones has been suspended for four weeks without pay after an internal review board determined the two-year veteran was not safely operating his patrol car June 27 when he struck and killed local magician Anthony "Chappy" Brazil.

Jones' suspension went into effect Thursday, immediately after Sheriff Jerry Keller approved the board's findings. Jones will additionally be required to attend a Metro driving school refresher course in operating an emergency vehicle before he can return to duty.

"None of these actions can change the course of events that happened on that tragic morning," Keller said. "We certainly feel that this event, and all of its circumstances, was an accident.

"(Officer Jones) was doing what we expect every police officer to be doing, and that's roll Code 3 with red lights and siren every time a citizen of our community is in fear for their life."

Jones was rushing to the 2600 block of Arville Street to assist a breathless security guard who had called 911 at 12:40 a.m. The guard was dealing with an escalating domestic violence situation involving a man armed with a gun and knife at the Arville Park Apartments near Pennwood Avenue.

Three minutes later, Jones crossed the centerline while northbound on Industrial Road near Oquendo Road and hit Brazil's southbound motorcycle head-on.

"Code 3" is defined in the department's policy as driving with lights and siren. The board, however, found that Jones, 35, was in violation of a provision requiring that an officer's safe operating speed of vehicle be dictated by existing road and traffic conditions.

"Speed in this matter was not the concern," Keller said. "We expect (officers) to go fast -- faster than the posted speed limit -- to respond to life crises. We also expect them to follow all the laws as reasonably as they can and never give them the opportunity to take someone's life without consequence.

"(Jones) was doing exactly what we at this department and every citizen want him to do with exception that he used poor judgment, was in the wrong lane and as a result the death of Chappy Brazil occurred."

The sheriff said Jones remains deeply remorseful for the death of Brazil, who was 33 years old. The patrolman permitted Keller to publicly announce the sanctions against him -- unusual in that details of disciplinary actions are typically confidential.

The district attorney's office on Wednesday filed misdemeanor charges against Jones, accusing him of careless driving and failure to maintain a travel lane.

Keller said with the exception of one felony case, Jones' charges are consistent with the way 39 of the 40 fatal accidents within Clark County not involving drugs or alcohol were handled this year.

Deputy Chief Mike Hawkins chaired the review board, which looks at all Metro-related cases involving serious bodily injury or death, and officers ranking as captains or above.

Deputy Chiefs Richard McKee and Mike Zagorski were also on the three-person board, which met Thursday morning.

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