Law enforcement experts weigh in on the recent deadly OIS

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – The number of officer-involved shootings in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Department’s jurisdiction has increased dramatically so far in 2024.

According to Metro, there have been thirteen OISs so far this year, eight of which were fatal.

Last year around this time there were 6 OIS, 2 of which were fatal.

After we shared the story of the deadly November 12 OIS near Sunset Park, many viewers left comments on our social media platforms questioning the actions of the Metro officer involved.

Metro said their officer, 26-year-old Alexander Bookman, was involved and is now on routine administrative leave.

Channel 13 spoke with two law enforcement experts to give their thoughts on the incident.

Both experts said OIS is a complex topic based on reasonable standards. According to Metro’s use of force policy, reasonable considerations include the seriousness of the crime, whether the individual poses a threat and whether the individual is resisting arrest.

Joe Blaettler, retired deputy police chief of Union City, New Jersey and owner of East Coast Private Investigations, said the bodycam video could show excessive use of force.

“From what I’m looking at, from what they’re releasing, I don’t see the danger to the officer,” Blaettler said. “I don’t see the danger for the shirtless guy. I see no danger to the man in red.

The call started as a report from 43-year-old Brandon Durham stating that a shooting had occurred at his home.

Several officers responded to the scene, including Officer Bookman, who is seen on the bodycam footage kicking the front door and entering the home.

Bookman walks down a hallway and shouts, “Metro police!” He then comes across two people wrestling over a knife.

It’s hard to make out who’s holding the knife in the video, but on the right is a shirtless man, who we now know to be Durham, and on the left is a person in a red hoodie, who was identified by police as a 31 year old. old Alejandra Boudreaux.

Officer Bookman orders the two to drop the knife, and just a second later you hear gunshots before both people fall to the ground. Durham was murdered.

“He keeps shooting while they’re on the ground,” Blaettler said. “Everything is happening so quickly in real time, but that’s where training comes in. I mean, officers are trained to deal with situations like this.”

Retired Hobbs, New Mexico Police Officer Antonio De La Fuente believes the shooting may be justified.

“I don’t know what’s going through the officer’s mind,” De La Fuente said. “He shows up, hears people screaming in the house, comes in because a man is armed somewhere in the house. I honestly couldn’t hear if there was anyone in the house screaming. Officers have the right to protect people, property and property .” themselves too.”

Metro’s use-of-force policy also states that officers may only use deadly force “in the most extreme circumstances where lesser means of force have failed or could not reasonably be considered.”

Whether Officer Bookman attempted to use other, less lethal force was not mentioned during a Metro press conference on the OIS on Thursday.

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Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said the investigation is still in its early stages.

“I cannot speculate on what exactly the officer knew at the time or what the perception of the threat was at the time,” Koren said.