Police department promoting officer involved in student's body-slamming incident brings disrepute to CCSD Police department
In a recent turn of events, the appointment of Lt. Jason Elfberg to oversee the training bureau, investigations, and evidence bureau within the Clark County School District Police Department (CCSDPD) has sparked significant controversy. This decision, made by CCSDPD Chief Mike Blackeye, was announced to start on July 1, 2025, but was later reversed following public outcry and intense scrutiny.
The controversy stems from Lt. Elfberg's prior use of force incident, which took place in February 2023 near Durango High School. A video of the incident showed him body-slamming a student and kneeling on the student's back, actions that have raised public outrage, particularly from the NAACP Las Vegas chapter, which called for Chief Blackeye's resignation.
The appointment of Elfberg was seen as a "woeful lack of judgment" and a threat to student safety and trust in the department. The incident, along with the decision to appoint Elfberg, has raised concerns about the message such an appointment would send regarding the department’s training culture, specifically whether aggressive and excessive use of force would become normalized or endorsed in the training of officers interacting with students.
Despite the controversy, Chief Blackeye has faced calls for resignation but continues as chief. Following the backlash, Elfberg was removed from the training leadership position, but he remains in an administrative position within the department.
The incident involving Elfberg is indicative of a system that tolerates, protects, and even promotes violence against children who question authority. The behaviour captured in the body camera footage shows Elfberg creating chaos, threatening students, making questionable statements, and appearing more concerned with asserting his authority than understanding the law or serving the community.
It is important to note that Elfberg has never been charged with a crime or disciplined for his conduct related to the Durango High School incident. However, he has yet to admit any wrongdoing, even after a million-dollar settlement with two of the families involved.
The episode raises questions about leadership, integrity, and values at the highest levels of CCSDPD. Chief Blackeye owes students, parents, and educators a full, public explanation for his decision to appoint Elfberg and for his handling of the incident.
The CCSDPD exists to protect students, not intimidate, body-slam, or empower those who harm students. The goal of placing Elfberg in charge of training might have been to instill authoritarianism within CCSDPD ranks, but such a move would compromise student safety and trust in the department.
This incident serves as a reminder of the tension between leadership decisions within school police and community expectations regarding accountability and the use of force in schools. It is a call for transparency, accountability, and a shift towards a culture that prioritizes the safety and well-being of students above all else.
[1] Las Vegas Review-Journal, "NAACP calls for resignation of school police chief over officer appointment", February 10, 2025. [2] KSNV News 3, "School police chief reverses decision on officer appointment amid public outcry", February 12, 2025. [3] KTNV ABC 13, "Community reacts to school police chief's controversial officer appointment", February 11, 2025. [4] ACLU of Nevada, "ACLU sues for release of body camera footage in school police incident", February 15, 2023. [5] KVVU Fox 5, "School police chief faces calls for resignation over officer appointment", February 10, 2025.
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on the NAACP's call for the resignation of school police chief Mike Blackeye over his controversial appointment of Lt. Jason Elfberg, following a body-slamming incident involving a student and raised concerns about the normalization of excessive use of force within the Clark County School District Police Department (CCSDPD).
- In the midst of the controversy, general news sources such as KSNV News 3 and KTNV ABC 13 covered the public outcry and scrutiny that led to the reversal of Elfberg's appointment to oversee training, investigations, and evidence bureaus within the CCSDPD.
- The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit seeking the release of body camera footage from the incident, raising issues about transparency and accountability in the department's handling of matters related to crime and justice, particularly as they pertain to education-and-self-development and politics.
