Derek Colling

In Less Than Six Years with Metro

“The Most Dangerous Cop in America” Had Two Kills

Was Caught on Video Assaulting an Unarmed Citizen.

An altar for Robbie Ramirez. Credit T. Watson / Wyoming Public Radio

UPDATE: It seems Derek  Colling has killed again, shooting an unarmed man in Albany County, Wyoming. According to Wyoming Public Media’s Tennessee Watson, the body cam footage, released by The Albany County Sheriff’s Department “cuts off before Colling fired the fatal shots.”

Dubbed “THE MOST DANGEROUS COP IN AMERICA,” by CopBlock, Derek Colling managed to kill two citizens and assault and falsely arrest a third. Two of these incidents have been captured on video and even when viewed in the very best of light they show Colling is prone to making bad decisions, is confrontational, reckless and dishonest.

In 2006, he and four other officers shot Shawn Jacob Collins after the 43-year-old man pulled a gun at an east valley gas station. The shooting was ruled justified following a coroner’s inquest.

Shooting of Tanner Chamberlain caught on video.

Then in 2009 Colling was the lone officer to fire in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Tanner Chamberlain. The incident was captured on video. Chamberlain appears more scared than dangerous as he hides behind his mother as officer approach, weapons drawn. Chamberlain’s life ended when he stumbled, releasing his mother and giving Colling a clean shot. Even though the boy’s stumble forced him to release his grasp on his mother freeing her from danger, Colling took the shot while four other officers and Chamberlain’s mother watched in shock.

Wayne Peterson, a former Las Vegas police homicide lieutenant, said he would not have pulled the trigger on the mentally ill teenager, even though he had been holding a knife in front of his mother just before Colling shooting him in the head. “I couldn’t live with myself,” Peterson said of the thought of taking the troubled boy’s life.

The Chamberlain shootings was also ruled justified by a Clark County coroner’s inquest jury.

https://vimeo.com/27026719

Former LVMPD officer Derek Colling  and his last victim, Mitchell Crooks (insert).

Then in April, 2010 Colling made national headlines when the video above was released showing Colling arresting Las Vegas resident Mitchell Crooks. Crooks, a freelance videographer, was taping the arrest of several juveniles for suspect burglary on his cul-de-sac. Suddenly, officer Colling stopped his cruiser in front of Crooks home, and began to question a man standing in his front yard, breaking no laws. What happened next was captured on video tape, which, after being released to the media, resulted in Colling’s paid suspension. An internal investigation determined that Crooks’ complaint about Colling’s use of excessive force was sustained. Colling was found guilty of violating several other department policies and was terminated in December of 2011, but not before costing taxpayers nearly $108,336 in total pay & benefits while he sat home on paid suspension.. His attempt to have his termination over-turned was rejected by  Metro’s Civil Service Board.

Colling was hired by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming as a corrections officer shortly after being terminated by the LVMPD. His recent promotion to deputy was defended by Albany County Sheriff Dave O’Malley, who admits he has made it a point not to watch the video of Colling assaulting Crooks.

Related articles

• Chants of “Fire Derek Colling” echo through the streets of Laramie, Wyoming

• An officer-involved shooting in Laramie  has been handed to the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation.

• Deputy fatally shoots man on Garfield Street

• LVMPD Reaches Settlement with Mitchell Crooks (clarkcountycriminalcops.wordpress.com)
• Vegas Cops Dish Out $100,000 Settlement To Videographer They Severely Beat (pixiq.com)
• Federal Jury Says Cops Can’t Arrest People for Recording Police Encounters (reason.com)