For Clark County sheriff, it’s policy wonk or likable leader

By Ana Ley

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Las Vegas’ top cop holds one of the most powerful elected law enforcement positions in the country. The job entails protecting 2 million residents, nearly 40 million tourists and billions worth of Strip property.

Clark County voters next month will choose which candidate is up to the task.

When incumbent Doug Gillespie announced he wouldn’t be running for a third four-year term last year, nine candidates scrambled to sign up to replace him. June’s primary singled out two contenders who now pit Metro Police brass against its union.

Assistant Sheriff Joe Lombardo won the June primary and has Gillespie’s endorsement. Retired Capt. Larry Burns is backed by the union’s rank-and-file officers.

Lombardo is the favorite. He has raised $1.7 million, but Burns is supported by 96 percent of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, which could deliver the help of hundreds of officers to turn out voters.

Here’s what you should know about Lombardo and Burns before heading to the polls.

Joe Lombardo

Career

Lombardo earned two degrees from UNLV — one in civil engineering and a master’s degree in crisis management. He graduated from the FBI National Academy and joined the Army, serving in the National Guard and the Army Reserve. He’s been with Metro for 25 years.

As assistant sheriff, he falls third on Metro’s cop hierarchy after Gillespie and the department’s vacant undersheriff position — a considerably higher rank than Burns achieved before retiring.

Supporters

Lombardo’s supporters include Sheriff Doug Gillespie and former Assistant Sheriff Ted Moody, one of seven candidates who was weeded out during the June primary.

He’s also backed by Bill Young, Gillespie’s predecessor, and former Sheriff Ralph Lamb, an old-school lawman who led the department in the '60s and '70s and was then known as the “Cowboy Sheriff.”

Background

The son of an Air Force veteran, he was born in Japan before moving to Las Vegas in 1976 and graduating from Rancho High School. He’s 52.

Goals

Lombardo says he wants to reorganize Metro by decentralizing staff and moving people closer to the communities they serve. He also wants to address concerns about officers’ use of force.

Campaign finance

His campaign reported raising about $1.7 million as of Tuesday. Lombardo raked in big donations from casinos that include Golden Nugget, Red Rock Resort and Wynn.

Why Lombardo thinks he should win

Lombardo says he’s the obvious choice because of his education and “most concrete, answerable vision” for reform at Metro. He says he wants to hold the department more accountable professionally and fiscally.

Personal

In forums and at press conferences, Lombardo isn’t as outspoken or approachable as Burns. People say he’s more interested in results than niceties.

He’s a self-described policy wonk — his favorite reads come from publications by the Police Executive Research Forum and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Lombardo has a fianceé, a 16-year-old daughter from a previous marriage and a 10-year-old dog called Jasper.

According to his website, he served on the Goodwill of Southern Nevada Board of Directors.

Larry Burns

Career

Burns attended Brigham Young University for two years but didn’t earn a degree. After a two-year mission in Ecuador, he turned to construction work in Las Vegas before joining the police department. He worked at Metro for 27 years before retiring last year as a captain.

Local activists praise Burns for reducing crime and improving community relations in the department’s Bolden Area Command, which includes a poor and historically black neighborhood in the heart of Las Vegas.

Supporters

Burns’ biggest endorsement comes from the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, Metro’s biggest union. He’s also backed by Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and former Sheriff Jerry Keller, who preceded Young and Gillespie.

Background

Burns’ father was in the Air Force and he was born in London. He graduated from high school in Maine and moved to Las Vegas in 1980. He’s 56.

Goals

Burns' top goal is to reduce crash-related deaths because the issue “affects every one of us.” He says he wants the department to start responding to all wrecks again. Earlier this year, Gillespie ordered Metro officers to stop responding to most minor car accidents.

“It’s a deep concern to me,” Burns said, “because our current practice is not what our public wants.”

Campaign finance

Burns’ campaign raised about $926,000 through Tuesday. His biggest contributors are also casinos, and they include Mandalay Bay, MGM and Bellagio.

Why Burns thinks he should win

Burns thinks he should win because he has the support of Metro’s officers. He says he also has a good plan to move the department forward by focusing more resources on crime prevention. And he thinks he’s a good communicator, which he considers key to running a successful department.

Personal

People who know Burns say his biggest assets are his charm and ability to lead. In a nutshell, he’s likable.

He’s been married for 30 years and is the father of eight children. He has two grandchildren, with another on the way. He likes working with kids. He’s taught Sunday school, served as a Boy Scout leader and lectured youth groups.

His favorite book is “Man’s Search for Meaning,” and his favorite flick is the 1990s western “Tombstone.”