Metro serves the city limits of Las Vegas and the unincorporated areas and towns of Clark County.

Oftentimes, people living in the metropolitan area would call the wrong agency to report crimes in progress, which would delay police response.

[4] In 1999, an outside audit conducted by DMG-Maximus, commended the department for having fewer managers and supervisors than are typically found in large police agencies.

[6] Las Vegas Township Constable's Office continues to be a separate entity but under Metro's Detention Services Division.

[citation needed] In November 2024, venture capitalist Ben Horowitz was reported to have funded at least $7.6 million in LVMPD purchases during the previous few years, and to have acted as facilitator between the department and at least six of his a16z portfolio companies.

[9] Since the late 1970s, more than 100 LVMPD officers and civilian employees have been implicated in documented instances of police misconduct and/or actual criminal activity, with numerous incidents resulting in lawsuit settlements in excess of a million dollars apiece.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that the decision to encrypt their radio channels was made back in 2015 due to officer safety concerns.

However, after the retirement of the Ford Crown Victoria in 2011, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police went through a short session of testing vehicles.

The department itself generates approximately 33% of its funds through property tax, and the charging for certain services, such as special events, work cards, and privileged license investigations.

It is used to house inmates arrested in their patrol area, with the exception of misdemeanors committed in the City of Las Vegas, which maintains its own jail.

The facility has been criticized for its violations of human rights, with a major focus on verbal and sexual abuse to inmates as well as the use of controversial spit mask restraint for resistive detainees during the booking process.

Officers can choose their sidearm from a list of semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Beretta, Colt, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Kimber, Para-Ordnance/Para USA, Ruger, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, CZ P Series, Springfield Armory, Steyr Mannlicher, Unertl, Walther, Wilson Combat, STI Staccato P. The preferred calibers are 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.

Officers can also install Red Dot Sights/Optics on their service pistols but only after they completed their FTEP Phase and attend the specified training course.