By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department body camera footage shows a traffic stop of Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo conducted May 15 near Mandalay Bay for an alleged red light violation on a right turn.
- Lombardo immediately identified himself to the sergeant, stating “I’m Joe Lombardo” as the officer began explaining the reason for the stop.
- The officer issued no citation, stating “You are good to go, sir. Appreciate you. Have a good day” after Lombardo said “Come on man” in response to the alleged violation.
- Lombardo’s campaign characterized the stop as routine, stating the governor received no special treatment, while the Las Vegas Police Protective Association president stated the stop was “absolutely nothing” compared to thousands conducted monthly without citations.
- Nevada Democratic Party and ACLU representatives questioned the stop’s handling and called for transparency in the incident.
LAS VEGAS, NEV. — Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department body camera footage released Tuesday documented a May 15 traffic stop of Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo near Mandalay Bay for an alleged red light violation.
The video shows Metropolitan Police Sergeant conducting a traffic stop of Lombardo’s Ford pickup truck, with his wife Donna in the front passenger seat. Upon approaching the passenger side, the sergeant greeted Lombardo and began explaining the reason for the stop.
“The reason I’m stopping you is for the …” the sergeant began.
“I’m Joe Lombardo,” the governor immediately stated.
“I’m aware,” the officer responded. “For the red light violation back there. Your right turn onto Giles …”
“Come on man,” Lombardo responded.
“You are good to go, sir. Appreciate you. Have a good day,” the sergeant stated, declining to issue a citation.
According to the governor’s campaign, Lombardo and his wife were traveling to Harry Reid International Airport at the time of the stop. The campaign issued a statement characterizing the encounter as routine and denying Lombardo sought special consideration.
“Two months ago, Governor Lombardo and his wife were briefly pulled over on their way to the airport by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department over a question about whether Governor Lombardo had come to a complete stop while turning. Governor Lombardo spoke with the officer, fully complied with all instructions, and was promptly on his way,” the campaign stated.
The campaign further stated that Lombardo introduced himself to the sergeant as “a matter of courtesy” and did not invoke his office or seek preferential treatment.
Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, defended the officer’s handling of the stop, characterizing it as ordinary enforcement practice. “It is an absolutely nothing car stop,” Grammas stated. “Thousands of those happen every month. We don’t write everybody a ticket.”
Grammas stated that the officer identified Lombardo, determined he likely did not have a suspended license or outstanding warrants, and instructed him to drive safely. Grammas suggested that if Lombardo were not the governor, the stop would generate no public attention.
“If he wasn’t the governor, no one would care about the hundreds of other stops that are done the same way,” Grammas said.
The Nevada State Democratic Party issued a contrasting statement, characterizing the stop as an abuse of gubernatorial power. “Lombardo was caught using his position of power to avoid accountability after breaking the law and being pulled over by a Metro Police officer trying to do their job,” the party stated.
Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, issued a statement calling for transparency and public access to all records related to the incident. “Police should make all information related to the incident, including written communications and dashcam footage, available to the public promptly without charge or redaction,” Haseebullah stated.
The ACLU official characterized the incident as an example of political hypocrisy. “Governor Lombardo attempting to flex his political muscle after potentially running a red light would be an obvious example of an abuse of power, especially as his office continues to rail against Nevadans disregarding traffic laws,” Haseebullah said.
The Las Vegas Police Protective Association, which endorsed Lombardo’s gubernatorial campaigns in 2022 and 2026, released the body camera footage to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.