Video shows Nevada governor saying, ‘I’m Joe Lombardo,’ during traffic stop
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Newly released body camera video shows a routine traffic stop involving Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo ending just seconds after the Republican official called his name for an alleged red light violation and then walked away without explanation.
The nearly one-minute video shows a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sergeant stopping Lombardo’s pickup truck near Mandalay Bay on May 15 after the officer said the governor failed to come to a complete stop before turning right at a red light.
As the officer approaches the passenger side window, he salutes the governor.
“Hello. How are you sir?” says the sergeant.
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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo is seen on Las Vegas Metropolitan Police body camera video sitting in his pickup truck during a traffic stop. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)
Before the officer can finish explaining why he initiated the stop, Lombardo intervenes.
“I’m Joe Lombardo,” the governor says.
“I know,” the sergeant replies before continuing, “It’s for a rear red light violation. Turn right onto Giles…”
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“Come on, man,” Lombardo replies.
A few minutes later, the sergeant ends the stop without notice.
“You’re ready to go, sir. I appreciate you. Have a good day.”
The change takes approximately 15 seconds.
Lombardo’s office told Fox News Digital that the governor and his wife were briefly stopped by Las Vegas police on May 15 while en route to Harry Reid International Airport.
“Governor Lombardo spoke with the officer, fully complied with all instructions, and departed immediately,” the statement said. “We remain grateful for the professionalism of the officer involved and the service of law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada.”
The governor’s office also disputed any suggestion that Lombardo tried to use his position to influence the officer by mentioning his name.
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Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican and former Clark County sheriff, speaks during a public event. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“The governor never invoked his office or requested or expected preferential treatment,” the statement said.
According to a statement from the governor’s office, the officer first introduced himself and Lombardo responded by giving his name “out of courtesy.”
Lombardo, a Republican who served as sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for eight years before being elected governor in 2022, was traveling with his wife, Donna, at the time of the stop.
The video was quickly criticized by Nevada Democrats, who questioned whether the governor received preferential treatment because of his position.
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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo speaks onstage after a parade to commemorate Bruno Mars’ impact on Las Vegas entertainment at Toshiba Plaza in Las Vegas on April 10, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MGM Resorts)
“As a former law enforcement officer, I am outraged that Joe Lombardo thought he was above the law and fired a police officer who was just doing his job,” said Nevada State Democratic Party Chairman Daniele Monroe-Moreno. A statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The statement continued: “It’s clear that Lombardo’s ‘tough on crime’ approach did not actually apply to him after he got away with a traffic violation. Nevadans deserve to know whether Lombardo thinks he should be able to avoid responsibility for breaking the law because of his position.”
The Las Vegas Police Protective Association, which endorsed Lombardo’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign and backed him again this year, defended the handling of the stop after providing body camera video to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Union President Steve Grammas told the press that the encounter reflected the discretion officers routinely use during traffic stops and rejected the suggestion that Lombardo received preferential treatment.
“This is definitely not an empty car stop,” he told the Grammas Review-Journal. “There are thousands of these every month. We don’t fine everyone.”
Grammas said the sergeant already knew Lombardo as the governor and former Clark County sheriff, making it unnecessary to spend time verifying his identity before explaining the alleged violation and ending the stop with a verbal warning.
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Before being elected governor of Nevada, Joe Lombardo served as sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
“If it weren’t for the governor, no one would care about the hundreds of other stops that were made in the same way,” Grammas said.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has previously said Lombardo was not cited and said officers generally use discretion during minor traffic violations.
Fox News Digital has contacted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Nevada Republican Party and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada for comment.
