“We’re here to help you, not hurt you"
Las Vegas police have met with Asian American community leaders in an effort to strengthen relationships.
Review Journal reports that Metropolitan Police Department officials sat with community members on Tuesday to allow residents to meet their local officials.
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said residents were able to “put a name to a face” by meeting with the officers.
“We’re not here to take care of your speeding ticket,” Lombardo joked in a speech to a room of 200 people. “We’re here to help you, not hurt you.”
The sheriff shared information about his department’s work and encouraged people to get to know each other and their local officials.
Lombardo told Review Journal that cultures from outside of the US may fear the police.
The dinner was hosted by the Asian American Group of Las Vegas and the Asian American Coalition of Nevada at Hong Kong Garden on Spring Mountain Road.
Dennis Rucker, the group’s vice president, said the restaurant had been previously burgled. The group, who worked with the police, placed a sign written in Chinese on the door to alert patrons about safety.
Rita Vaswani, president of the group, said these dinners allow community members and leaders to establish a network of contacts regarding issues facing the Asian American community.
“I would put my police department, LVMPD, against any police department in the nation as far as our community outreach,” Lombardo said.