Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo was pulled over by a Las Vegas police officer on May 15 for allegedly running a red light in his pickup truck. The governor was not ticketed following the traffic stop.
The incident occurred in Las Vegas, where Lombardo previously served as sheriff for eight years before becoming governor. Body camera footage obtained by The Associated Press shows the officer approaching the driver's side window of a light-gray Ford pickup truck. After the officer began to explain the reason for the stop, Lombardo identified himself by saying, “I’m Joe Lombardo.” The officer acknowledged this and continued to explain that the stop was initiated because Lombardo had not stopped at a red light before making a right turn.
Lombardo responded with “Come on, man.” The officer then told Lombardo he was “good to go” and wished him a good day. The entire interaction lasted approximately 15 seconds of the 1 minute and 10 second video recording.
Lombardo's campaign stated that he and his wife were en route to the airport at the time of the stop. In a statement, the campaign said the governor "spoke with the officer, fully complied with all instructions, and was promptly on his way." They also expressed gratitude for the officer's professionalism and for law enforcement officers across Nevada.
According to the police department, no citation was issued, though they did not provide a specific reason. Law enforcement officials noted that it is common practice for officers to refrain from issuing citations for minor violations.
Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, commented that such interactions are not uncommon, with officers often stopping drivers, explaining the reason, and then allowing them to proceed. Grammas, whose union endorsed Lombardo, dismissed the incident as "a big nothing in my opinion" and denied that Lombardo received special treatment. He explained that officers typically request a driver's license for identification, but in this case, the officer already knew who the governor was, suggesting there was no need to run a license check given Lombardo's status as governor and former sheriff.
Edward Obayashi, a deputy sheriff and policy advisor who teaches ethics and policing, stated that neither the governor nor the officer engaged in unethical behavior. He noted that motorists are frequently let go with a warning and that it was evident the officer recognized Lombardo, possibly from running the license plate, making the governor's self-identification a matter of courtesy.