Bolden, pioneer Las Vegas police officer, dies at 63

Tuesday, April 4, 2000 | 12:20 p.m.

Services for pioneer Las Vegas police officer Larry C. Bolden will be 1 p.m. Thursday at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church, 820 H St.

Bolden, the first black to attain the rank of deputy chief of Metro Police, died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was 63.

Bolden began his career at the old Las Vegas Police Department in 1958 and spent 33 years as a local police officer, retiring in 1991.

"I learned a lot about being a police leader and a lot about being a good person from him," said Sheriff Jerry Keller, who worked under Bolden after Keller was promoted to captain. "He set the standard. I considered him a terrific friend."

In 1970, after climbing steadily through the ranks, Bolden was denied a promotion to captain after six other candidates for the post accused him of cheating on a civil service exam. His accusers testified they did not see him cheat but said he was nervous during the test and was perspiring.

Bolden took the matter to District Court in 1972 and won a ruling that he was treated unfairly and should have been promoted. The decision was upheld by the Nevada Supreme Court and Bolden was promoted to captain in 1973.

During the time of the controversy, the LVPD and Clark County Sheriff's Department merged to become the Metropolitan Police Department.

Born Feb. 16, 1937, in Las Vegas, Bolden joined the Las Vegas Police Department at 21 when the department had just three black officers.

Bolden, Herman Moody and Isadore Washington patrolled predominantly black West Las Vegas in battered blue-and-white cars that lacked air conditioning.

Bolden said as time went on, success in the local police department was determined by job performance and not hindered by color.

"Being human, no matter what your skin color, is part of the equation," Bolden told the Sun in an Aug. 1, 1988, story marking his 30th anniversary on the force. "You can't stay in a vacuum, associating only with your own kind."

Bolden, who graduated from the FBI Academy in the mid-1970s, became one of the founding members of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives in 1976 and three years later was promoted to deputy chief.

Bolden was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. James Catholic Church Gentlemen's Club and a board member of the Variety Day Home Nursery School.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Visitation will be 1-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Palm Mortuary Downtown. Burial will be in Palm Valley View Cemetery.

Donations can be made in Bolden's memory to the St. James Catholic Church Building Fund.

Ed Koch is a reporter for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4090 or by e-mail at koch@lasvegassun.com