The Metropolitan Police Department is probing the defacing of a mammoth banner promoting Gov. Joe Lombardo’s re-election campaign on the 215 Beltway in the southwest valley.
An investigation was initiated by officers who saw the vandalized banner near Flamingo Road without input or request from any political campaign, Metro said Thursday.
“Campaign signs are routinely defaced,” a statement said. “(Metro) has investigated vandalism in the past when it is evident that the cost of the damage is significant.”
The banner, paid for by the Lombardo campaign, originally showed a portrait of a smiling Lombardo and his name in large lettering.
A vandal or vandals added an old-timey mustache to his picture and included the text “C’mon Man” next to it, likely in reference to Las Vegas police body-camera footage that emerged last week that showed a traffic stop involving Lombardo in May.
In the brief interaction, the governor had interrupted the sergeant who pulled him over, introducing himself as “I’m Joe Lombardo,” and later saying “Come on, man,” as the officer was explaining the suspected low-level traffic violation.
The officer decided against issuing a ticket.
News stories about the traffic stop triggered political attacks from Democrats who accused Lombardo of using his position of power to get out of an infraction.
Lombardo’s campaign has vehemently denied that the governor had sought preferential treatment, defending the officer and praising his professionalism.
The campaign noted that Metro officers often use discretionary powers.
Current Sheriff Kevin McMahill told the Review-Journal that he was OK with the officer’s actions, adding that the sergeant used discretion as many others regularly do.
Metro officers have conducted about 210,000 traffic stops this year, issuing citations about 140,000 times, McMahill said last week.
“Political candidates can report vandalism and (Metro) will investigate,” police said. “This investigation was initiated by patrol officers, not by members of a political campaign.”
Lombardo’s campaign on Thursday declined to comment on the vandalized banner but highlighted the second point about having nothing to do with the investigation into it.
Metro officers first reported the defaced banner on July 7, initiating an investigative follow-up, police said. A crime scene investigator used a ladder to gather evidence.
Then on Saturday, a sergeant noticed that the sign had been vandalized again, initiating a second call for service.
“(A Metro) Crime Scene Investigator was dispatched to process the scene,” police said. “This time they needed a taller ladder to reach the billboard to gather evidence, and we requested help from the Clark County Fire Department.”
The investigation was ongoing with no arrests as of Thursday afternoon, police said.
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.
