Sheriff of Clark County

The Sheriff heads the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, is elected by the citizens of Clark County, and is an independent agency with joint policing of the City of Las Vegas and of unincorporated Clark County.

The sheriff is the only elected head law enforcement officer within the city and county, and, as such, is not under the direct control of the city, county, state, or federal government.

The current sheriff is Kevin McMahill, who became sheriff after Republican Joe Lombardo resigned to become Governor of Nevada.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was formed on July 1, 1973, by merging the former Las Vegas Police Department with the Clark County Sheriff's Department, with the Sheriff serving as its chief.

The result is that Metro polices within the city limits of Las Vegas and all unincorporated areas and towns within Clark County.