After 2 Las Vegas officers shot, Sheriff Joe Lombardo says there’s no ‘war on cops’
Even though four of his officers have been shot this year, Sheriff Joe Lombardo doesn't believe Las Vegas is seeing a "war on cops."
"I think it's a war on society," Lombardo said during a press conference Wednesday in the wake of two shootings over the span of three days that left two officers injured. "Society is becoming more violent in recent times."
Officer Jeremy Robertson, 37, was shot in the leg about 3:30 a.m. Friday by a semi-automatic assault-style rifle after responding to a call about armed intruders in the backyard of a house in the 6700 block of Oveja Circle.
Clemon Hudson, 20, and Steven Turner, 24, face two counts each of attempted murder, and one count each of conspiracy to commit battery with a deadly weapon, firing a gun into a structure, burglary while in possession of a weapon and conspiracy to commit burglary.
Police thought there may have been a third person involved but said Wednesday that was not the case.
After the shooting, Lombardo ordered his officers to ride in pairs while on patrol — a common maneuver when police are wounded while working.
But that didn't stop the violence.
Just two days later, Officer Thomas Clevenger, 46, was shot while he and his partner, Sergio Orizabal, were stopped at a red light at Tropicana Avenue and Nellis Boulevard. The suspect fired three shots, and was eventually chased down and arrested by Orizabal, police said.
Metro's suspect in that shooting has not yet been identified because he is a juvenile.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who also spoke at Wednesday's press conference, said he plans on charging the suspect as an adult. Wolfson said he will likely file those charges within the next day or two.
Lombardo said there is no defined time for how long officers will ride in pairs.
Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead
