Las Vegas Mass Shooting: 5 Things To Know About Sheriff Joe Lombardo

LAS VEGAS, NV — As the death toll continues to climb in what is now the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, the Clark County Sheriff's Department and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department continue to work constantly in the tragedy's aftermath. Police responded to what some witnesses described as "relentless" gunfire during a country music festival Sunday night near the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. At the forefront of the tragedy is Sheriff Joe Lombardo, a longtime member of the Las Vegas police department who was elected sheriff in 2014. Lombardo, who has advocated for gun-control measures in Nevada, called shooter Stephen Paddock a "lone-wolf type."

So who is Joe Lombardo?

1. Born in Japan, the 54-year-old Lombardo has been a Las Vegas resident since he was 14 years old. A Republican, he announced his candidacy for Clark County sheriff in December 2013.

2. He has a military background. Lombardo served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. (For updates on the shooting and daily news from Las Vegas, sign up for the Patch morning newsletter and breaking news alerts.)

Death Toll Climbs After Vegas Shooting Attack

3. His law enforcement career goes back nearly three decades. Lombardo got his start in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1988, working his way up through the ranks as a patrol officer, sergeant, lieutenant, search-and-rescue commander and deputy chief. He also served as the LVMPD's homeland security commander.

4. He's helped launch a fundraiser for victims of the massacre. Clark County Commission Chair Steve Sisolak and Lombardo have set up a GoFundMe account to aid survivors and their families

5. Last year, he joined the editorial board of the Las Vegas Sun in advocating for gun control legislation — specifically, a high-capacity magazine ban for Nevada. “I’m a very avid hunter, I was in the military myself, and there’s no need to have a high-capacity magazine for any practical reason,” he said in an interview with the Sun.

Lombardo is a 2013 graduate of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) Police Executive Leadership Development Program. The MCCA praised Lombardo and Las Vegas police in a statement by its president, Tom Manger of Montgomery County, Maryland.

America has just witnessed the worst mass shooting in our history in Las Vegas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of victims of this terrible tragedy. Sheriff Joe Lombardo and the Las Vegas Metro PD have responded with great skill and professionalism. They have worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prepare for and prevent terrorist acts against their community. This shooting and others we have experienced over the years underscores the enormous challenge law enforcement faces in the effort to prevent these shocking events. It also reinforces the importance of continuing to invest in terrorism prevention and response initiatives.

More from Patch:

• Las Vegas Shooting: At Least 58 Dead, More Than 500 Injured In Worst Mass Shooting In U.S. History
• Stephen Paddock, Las Vegas Mass Shooting Suspect: Facts To Know
• Watch: President Trump Calls Las Vegas Shooting 'An Act Of Pure Evil'

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo/AP Photo/Regina Garcia Cano