LCPD: Officer shot mentally ill man after taser failed to neutralize him

Las Cruces Police said Tuesday the man shot and killed by a Las Cruces Police officer attacked a female officer with a baseball bat even after he was tasered by the officer.

The Las Cruces Police Department held a news conference Wednesday morning to address the officer-involved shooting. Just after 10:30 p.m. on August 3rd, police say 29-year-old James Bishop injured one officer, so another officer shot and killed him inside Bishop’s house on Arlington Avenue near Camino Del Rex.

Las Cruces Police Chief Patrick Gallagher said Bishop’s father called 911 to report his son, who is bipolar, suffered a psychotic break. When officers arrived at the home, the father met them outside and told them his son was inside armed with a baseball bat.

According to Gallagher, the father told the officers, “you are probably going to have to taser him.”

Once inside the home, Bishop allegedly lunged at a female police officer, striking the woman with the bat. Police said the officer tasered Bishop, but the device was unable to neutralize Bishop. At that point, a male officer shot Bishop.

“The taser was ineffective. Tasers have aiming devices, two red dots indicating the taser is properly aimed. Both prongs of the taser must come into contact with the subject to complete the electrical circuit that incapacitates the victim,” Gallagher said.

The police chief explained only one prong struck Bishop in his chest. “It is our belief, that the taser was not effective because as Bishop brought his baseball bat down, he deflected (the other prong),” Bishop said.

Gallagher said both officers were placed on administrative duty during the investigation, but are now back on active duty. Both officers have been with the LCPD for about 18 months, Gallagher said. The chief also said the Las Cruces Police Department had already dealt with Bishop in the past.

“This is a tragic situation. Is there room for improvement? Of course. I would say that since being here the Las Cruces Police Department goes above and beyond what is required by the State in so far as training required for dealing with the mentally-ill,” Gallagher said, adding his department will review the deadly shooting to look at how it can improve it services.

“The family had hoped the police would help them get James under control and transported to the hospital to get the help that he needed,” said Gavin Clarkson, a spokesman for the family.

The news conference was originally scheduled for last Thursday, but Bishop’s family asked that it be postponed, according to the department.