News Summary
The NAACP has demanded the resignation of Clark County School District Police Chief Mike Blackeye following the controversial appointment of Lt. Jason Elfberg, which faced backlash due to Elfberg’s prior use of force on a student. Although Blackeye withdrew Elfberg’s appointment before it took effect, community leaders remain concerned about police accountability, especially after a $1 million settlement was approved in response to the incident. Discussions are ongoing about transparency in police actions in schools, with new proposals aimed at improving public reporting of police use of force.
Las Vegas – The NAACP has called for the resignation of Clark County School District Police Chief Mike Blackeye following the contentious appointment of Lt. Jason Elfberg to lead the training bureau. This decision, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, raised significant public outcry due to Elfberg’s past conduct during a student altercation at Durango High School in February 2023, where he was recorded using force on a student.
In response to the backlash, Chief Blackeye chose to withdraw Elfberg from the position before it even commenced. Adam Levine, the general counsel for the Police Officers Association of the Clark County School District, expressed disappointment over the withdrawal, suggesting it reflected public pressure rather than the merits of Elfberg’s qualifications.
Elfberg’s past incident involves a video that surfaced showing him physically restraining a student who was recording the detainment of another student. This interaction resulted in no disciplinary action against Elfberg, which prompted widespread community frustration. To address the outrage surrounding this situation, the Clark County School District Board approved a $1 million settlement for the students involved in the altercation.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has taken legal steps to obtain access to body camera footage from the incident. A District Court judge earlier ordered the release of this footage, indicating ongoing efforts for greater accountability and transparency concerning the actions of police in schools.
Levine defended Elfberg’s appointment by emphasizing that the role primarily involves administrative duties, focusing on the review and improvement of training policies, materials, and records. However, critics, including NAACP President Quentin Savwoir, have raised serious concerns about Elfberg’s appointment, viewing it as a disturbing disconnect from community standards and a threat to student safety. Savwoir denounced the consideration of Elfberg for the training role as “crazy,” reinforcing the idea that the community’s safety concerns should be prioritized.
A meeting between Nevada Superintendent Jhone Ebert and NAACP President Savwoir is set to take place in the coming days to discuss these pressing issues further. In light of these developments, the Clark County School District clarified that staffing adjustments are routinely considered, with Elfberg remaining in his current administrative role linked to investigations rather than transitioning to the training bureau.
Additionally, the ACLU continues to pursue litigation against the Clark County School District, advocating for increased transparency concerning police actions in schools. This case follows a pattern of heightened scrutiny regarding the use of force by school police, particularly regarding the deployment of chemical agents and electronic devices against students.
As legislative discussions continue, recent proposals have emerged aiming to enhance transparency concerning police use of force in Clark County schools. One of these proposals, Assembly Bill 420, seeks to establish mandatory public reporting on police use of force incidents, a measure that is currently pending approval from Governor Joe Lombardo.
Overall, the appointment of Lt. Jason Elfberg highlighted the urgent conversation around accountability and reform within school policing in Clark County, as community leaders and district officials navigate the complexities of maintaining student safety and effective law enforcement practices.
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Additional Resources
- News 3 LV
- Wikipedia: School Police
- 8 News Now
- Google Search: Clark County School District Police
- KTNV
- Google Scholar: CCSD Police Use of Force
- Review Journal
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Use of Force in Schools
- Las Vegas Sun
- Google News: ACLU Clark County School District
