Furlong discusses Memphis beating, Carson shooting

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong wants to change the perception that cops are bad by holding deputies and other officers in his department to high standards of conduct.

“What happened in Memphis is on people’s minds a lot,” he said.

Furlong spoke to Carson City Chamber of Commerce members Thursday about accountability, officer supervision, technology and the best ways to maintain public safety. The discussion came more than two weeks after five police officers in Memphis, Tenn., were charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 7 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. The discussion also followed a Jan. 24 shooting in east Carson City that Furlong believes is the first significant gang activity in the capital in years. How law enforcement is supervised in interacting with the public is important, Furlong explained.

“What did you not see out there?” he asked of the Memphis incident.

He said the answer is a supervisor.

“There was no supervision,” he said.

Furlong questioned the name of the police unit involved in the Memphis beating. The SCORPION unit has since been disbanded, according to the Associated Press.

“What do you think that denotes?” he said of the name.

In contrast, Furlong outlined how CCSO uses what he calls “liability gatekeepers.” These are the department’s sergeants who oversee deputies and make the hard calls on scene. They also work with CCSO administration to track officer complaints and use-of-force incidents.

“Each sergeant is scrutinized to death before promoted to sergeant,” Furlong said.

Assistant Sheriff Daniel Gonzales described how technology has increased accountability. CCSO uses an integrated system of body cameras and car cameras. Supervisors can watch incidents live. Gonzales compared the costs facing the Memphis police department after the Jan. 7 incident to investments made by CCSO that enhance training and catch bad actors beforehand.

“We pay up front with training,” he said. “We pay up front with technology.”

Furlong said negative perceptions of law enforcement start early. He used the example of a child in the backseat of a car that’s pulled over. That child is going to see their parent’s negative reaction to police. He pointed to the CCSO outreach team, which pairs officers with mental health professionals, as a better way to handle some situations.

“They’re designed to locate people and guide them through crisis,” he said. “That team, the calls for service have absolutely skyrocketed in the community.”

Furlong said that “de-escalation is at the front of all our operations.”

Turning to the Jan. 24 incident, Furlong is concerned about youth gang activity resurfacing in Carson City and Lyon County.

“That was not a shooting,” he said, “that was a shoot-out.”

The shooting occurred at the 3300 block of East Carmine Street behind a CVS pharmacy. Detectives estimated 17 shots were fired. Several cars were damaged by an escaping vehicle, which was later recovered with multiple bags of marijuana and mushrooms inside. The investigation is ongoing, but CCSO has several juveniles and two adults in custody. More arrests are expected.

Furlong explained how accountability is important to young people as well. He said middle school is where gang problems start. He also pointed to marijuana as the main drug associated with homicides in the community. He said since statewide legalization of recreational marijuana, there has been an increase in the black market. Some teenagers will kill to get the drug, he warned.

“Our kids will do stupid things and destroy their own lives,” he said.

Furlong reminisced about his grade-school teachers and how adults have a huge impact on impressionable youth.

“Whether you know it or not, you are a hero to somebody,” he said.

One way parents can help improve public safety is to ensure guns in the home are secured, Furlong said. He said guns in recent incidents are not coming from the streets, but from homes. Gonzales added CCSO will provide free gunlocks for anyone interested.

Furlong is also encouraging parents concerned about their children engaging in gang activity to call 775-887-2500. People can leave a message for members of the Special Enforcement Team Gang Unit.