Police Officer Ernest J. May

End of Watch: Thursday, June 8, 1933

Officer Ernest James May was the first Las Vegas police officer to give his life in the line of duty. On June 8, 1933, Officer May responded to a call involving a drunken man shooting wildly at the Clark Auto Court on South 5th Street. Officer May, the first officer to arrive on the scene, pulled his police car into the auto court and as he climbed from the car, he was shot by the motel proprietor. Officer May was 38.