Newly released bodycam video shows Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo was stopped by a Las Vegas police sergeant on May 15 for an alleged red-light violation. The stop concluded within seconds after the Republican official identified himself and was let go without a citation.
The approximately one-minute video captures the sergeant approaching Lombardo's pickup truck near Mandalay Bay. The officer stated he initiated the stop because the governor allegedly failed to come to a complete stop before making a right turn at a red light.
As the officer approached the driver's side window, Lombardo interrupted the officer's explanation by stating, "I'm Joe Lombardo." The sergeant replied, "I'm aware," before continuing to explain the alleged violation.
Lombardo's office told Fox News Digital that the governor and his wife were en route to Harry Reid International Airport and that the stop was over a "question about whether Governor Lombardo had come to a complete stop while turning." The office stated that Lombardo "fully complied with all instructions, and was promptly on his way." The governor's office also stated that the governor provided his name "as a matter of courtesy" after the officer introduced himself, and that Lombardo did not expect or seek preferential treatment.
Lombardo, a Republican, previously served as the Clark County sheriff for eight years before being elected governor in 2022. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has stated that officers commonly exercise discretion in minor traffic violations and that Lombardo was not cited.
The video drew criticism from some Nevada Democrats. Daniele Monroe-Moreno, chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party, stated, "It's clear that Lombardo's 'tough on crime' approach doesn't actually apply to him after he name dropped his way out of a traffic violation." She questioned if Lombardo believed he was exempt from responsibility due to his position.
The Las Vegas Police Protective Association, which has endorsed Lombardo, defended the officer's handling of the stop. Union President Steve Grammas told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the encounter was a routine stop where officers often use discretion. He added that the sergeant, already recognizing Lombardo as governor and former sheriff, did not need to confirm his identity before concluding the stop with a verbal warning, stating, "If he wasn't the governor, no one would care about the hundreds of other stops that are done the same way."