Podcast summary
After reports raised concerns about CCSD Police using force on students—and disproportionate numbers involving Black and Hispanic students— Heidi Harris sits down with retired Las Vegas Metro Sgt. Tom Page to examine what actually happens when police are called into a volatile situation at school.
Page explains police use-of-force training and the force continuum, beginning with officer presence and verbal commands and escalating depending on a subject's actions and the threat involved. He describes the basic philosophy as “ask, tell, make,” while emphasizing that rapidly developing violence can require officers to skip some of those steps.
The conversation examines whether statistics showing racial disparities in use-of-force incidents tell the whole story. Page argues that individual incidents need to be examined in context: What was happening before police arrived? What was the student doing? What attempts had already been made to stop the behavior? And was the force used reasonable and necessary under those circumstances? He also discusses why pepper spray may sometimes represent a lower level of force than going hands-on, using a Taser or other options.
The discussion also acknowledges that excessive force does occur and that officers can behave improperly. Page explains how citizens can complain to a supervisor or Internal Affairs and how body-camera footage has become an important tool for determining what actually occurred during disputed encounters.
The conversation ultimately broadens beyond policing into parenting, respect for authority, student violence, peer influence and responsibility. Page argues that improving relationships between young people and law enforcement requires looking not only at police behavior, but also at what students are being taught about conflict, authority and interacting with officers.
One of the strongest themes—and probably your best promotional hook—is:
Tom Page bio:
Tom Page spent 25 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, serving in a wide range of assignments including patrol, traffic, field training, the Police Academy, mounted patrol, bicycle patrol, problem solving, and special events. He retired as a sergeant after leading some of Metro's most visible and complex operations.
Following his law enforcement career, he transitioned into private security, serving as Director of Security for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Director of Safety and Security for the Neon Museum, and Security Representative for the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.
About Vegas Crime Files
Las Vegas has one of the most fascinating criminal histories in America—and many of its most compelling stories have never been fully told. On Vegas Crime Files, veteran broadcaster Heidi Harris goes beyond the headlines with detectives, prosecutors, investigators, victims, and the people who were actually there. These aren't stories pulled from Google—they're firsthand accounts from the people who lived them.
🎙️ Listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.
📱 Follow Vegas Crime Files on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube for exclusive content, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes stories.
💻 Visit VegasCrimeFiles.com for episodes, show notes, and more.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. It helps more people discover the untold stories behind America's most mythologized city.
Follow us - but not too close.
Sep 23 202634 Min.