Note: Previous posts regarding Derek Colling and his shooting of Robbie Ramirez can be found here, here, and here.
Body Camera Disconnected From Battery Prior to Shooting
It looks like Derek Colling hasn’t forgotten his training at the LVMPD. As has been detailed many times here at NVCopBlock.org, members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have frequently had problems with video “malfunctioning.” Oftentimes these malfunctions happen at the most inopportune times, for instance when an arrestee or inmate is being abused or when the video contains evidence that could be used to convict an officer accused of some sort of crime or misconduct.
Note: If you have videos, stories, upcoming events/protests, or personal interactions with the police (and/or “justice” system) that you would like to share, send them to us and we will do everything we can to bring it to the attention of the world. In addition, you can visit the Nevada Cop Block resources section for information and links to the rights of citizens when dealing with police, during which you should always be filming.
Keeping true to that tradition, the latest word from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office concerning Collin’s third fatal on-duty shooting is that his bodycam failed to record the actual shooting of Robbie Ramirez. According to ACSO Undersheriff Josh DeBree, this was because it’s very easy to dislodge the battery pack from the camera.
The footage shows Colling approaching the vehicle for a traffic stop, tapping on the glass and asking Ramirez to roll down his window. At the press conference where the footage was released, Undersheriff Josh DeBree said it was difficult to confirm what Ramirez was saying from within his vehicle, but it sounded like he was asking why he had been pulled over.
Colling then calls for backup on his radio, at which point the footage shows Ramirez driving off.
The video shows Colling returning to his vehicle to pursue Ramirez for several blocks and into the parking lot of a small apartment complex. Colling exits his vehicle, pursues Ramirez on foot and yells to Ramirez to put his hands up, and then deploys his taser. Ramirez reacts, there’s a struggle and that’s when the body cam video cuts off.
Undersheriff DeBree said he’s yet to speak with Colling about the incident but he assumes the camera became detached from its battery pack.
“It doesn’t take any effort in a struggle for the camera to come unplugged,” said DeBree. “So that’s what we are assuming at this point absent any confirmation from DCI. Obviously, when the camera becomes unplugged from its battery pack it’s going to stop working right there.”
He indicated that was a problem.
“I would identify it as a new found problem and it’s definitely in the back of minds; of how we can prevent that from occurring in the future.”
Of course, having a camera that “doesn’t take any effort in a struggle to come unplugged” would seem to be a bad idea for a profession that often engages in struggles with people they are attempting to arrest. Especially when the purpose of that camera is to provide evidence of the nature and necessity of such a struggle (and/or the arrest itself). Fortunately, preventing this inconvenient problem that potentially invalidates that entire purpose is “definitely in the backs of minds” now.
Partial Dash Cam and Body Camera Footage Released
Thus far, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office has refused to release the full videos from Corporal Colling’s dash cam and body cameras publicly. The video embedded below was taken from a news report broadcast following a press conference in which select members of the media were shown the footage. Within that report, KGWN TV stated that they were unable to play the video in its entirety “due to its graphic nature.” (The majority of the original dash/body cam audio was also replaced by narration from a reporter in their newscast.)
Although what has been made public is very incomplete, what can be seen (and has been described) in those media reports appears to indicate that Ramirez fell down in front of the patrol car (out of view of the dashcam) just prior to being shot three times by Colling. This creates obvious questions about why Colling would need to kill Ramirez if he had fallen to the ground. The lack of that bodycam footage due to it being disconnected conveniently eliminates the possibility of a definitive answer to such questions.
Local Residents in Albany County Demand Transparency
In response, a grassroots organization that describes themselves as an ad-hoc group of “concerned citizens in Albany County” has formed. Yanna Ludwig, a member who attended a vigil held by the group stated she’d like to see more community oversight when it comes to law enforcement. “The people that in some ways have the most direct power over our safety are right now kind of the least accountable to our community and we’d like to see that shift.”
The group known as Albany County for Proper Policing or “ACoPP” for short, has launched a petition drive demanding that the full body/dash camera footage of Ramirez’ shooting be released to the public, as well as Colling’s past disciplinary history.
The petition is in response to law enforcement showing the footage to a select group of journalists on Tuesday, but refusing to release the footage to the public.
In a press release on Wednesday, the group said that they question the motives of local law enforcement showing the footage to such a limited group. The petition is aimed at gaining more transparency and accountability from local law enforcement.
ACoPP member Karlee Provenza is quoted in the release saying, “There’s no reason why law enforcement officials should walk a handpicked group of journalists step-by-step through the videos, providing their interpretation, without going ahead and letting the public see it and make up their own minds.”
A Wyoming law passed in 2017 states that body camera footage from an officer can be made public in cases that are of broad public interest.
ACoPP is also calling for the release of official records of disciplinary actions previously taken against Colling, as well as previous citizen complaints against him, rather than relying on reports from various news outlets.
ACoPP is not alone in their pursuit of the footage and disciplinary records. The American Civil Liberties Union has put in a similar request.
That petition can be found at their website, ACoPP.org, or via this online form.
Derek Colling: The “Most Dangerous Cop in America”
Discussion of Derek Colling on “ACAB Radio.”
In the video below, the hosts of the “ACAB Radio Las Vegas” podcast, a recently launched new collaboration between members of Food Not Bombs Las Vegas and NVCopBlock.org, discuss Derek Colling’s previous incidents which led to his firing at the LVMPD and his most recent shooting as a Wyoming deputy. (Unfortunately, the audio came out a bit low in the video. If you have headphones available, it is suggested that you take advantage of that option.)
ACAB Radio is recorded live (before a studio audience), every Tuesday afternoon. Currently, there are several ways the show can be viewed and/or listened to:
- As it happens, via Facebook Live
- As an audio file, via the Libsyn podcast hosting service
- On YouTube
- On iTunes
Related Posts
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- Derek Colling – Most Dangerous Cop in America
- One-Third of Bad Apples Fired in Wisconsin are Hired by Good Cops in Another Police Dept
- “ACAB Radio” New Podcast Collaboration Between Nevada Cop Block and Food Not Bombs Las Vegas Debuts
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- Submit Your Own Story of Police Abuse/Corruption
- Help Wanted! How You Can Become Involved With NVCopBlock
- #FTP – How and Why You Should Always Film The Police
- Press Passes for Independent Media and Freelance Journalists
- How to File a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) Request
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- Donate to the Cause – Help Us Help You Fight The Power
Kelly is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, who’s been very active in local grassroots activism, as well as on a national level during his extensive travels. He’s also the founder/main contributor of Nevada Cop Block, served as editor/contributor at CopBlock.org and designed the Official Cop Block Press Passes.
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Connect with Kelly at these social networks; Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Why has this not gone national? He did not persue Robbie for blocks it was the distance of 1 football field. The body cam coming unplugged; what about the dash cam.
It should be. Robbie Ramirez is the third person he’s killed and the fourth (known) major incident of violence he has committed against a citizen as a cop.