Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo leaves the podium to listen to a reporter’s question during a press conference held to discuss the 1 October After-Action Review report at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Headquarters on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.
Thursday, April 2, 2020 | 7:10 p.m.
Citing needed flexibility during the coronavirus pandemic, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo has suspended collective bargaining rights for Metro Police officers in the coming weeks.
“At this time, the intent in suspending the collective bargaining contracts is to allow (Metro) management the ability to potentially bypass the restriction of a 14-day notice prior to any transfer of personnel, whether permanent or semi-permanent,” the agency wrote in a statement.
The response to the novel virus, with 1,125 confirmed infections and 34 deaths in Clark County as of Thursday, has included shifting in-service staff and certain detective units to patrols, Lombardo has said.
At least two Metro officers have tested positive for COVID-19, while 15 were awaiting results as of Wednesday, Undersheriff Kevin McMahill said. Twenty-two officers had tested negative, while dozens of Metro employees were in self-quarantine for possible exposure.
As of yet, the virus hadn’t altered the operational strategy at Metro, McMahill said. In the past two weeks, officers have seen a 27% drop in crime, he added.
“This action has been made as added care, in case there is a need to supplement uniform patrol in the event that field operations are significantly impacted by COVID-19 in the upcoming weeks,” the statement said about the collective bargaining suspension, which is allowed by state law in emergencies.
Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, the union that represents rank-and-file Metro officers, said in a statement that the organization “recognizes the sheriff’s authority to suspend the (agreement) during the governor’s state of emergency.”
