We Infiltrated a Police Union Convention in Las Vegas

A reporter attended the International Union of Police Associations’ 23rd annual convention in a Las Vegas casino and found a sparse, insular gathering that crystallizes the union’s defensive, rightward posture. IUPA, the lone police affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was represented by long‑time president Sam Cabral, who has repeatedly rejected calls for police reform, defended law enforcement after high‑profile killings, and backed Donald Trump. The convention drew only a few dozen delegates, featured tightly managed media relations (including a “Quill & Badge” award program for friendly journalists), and operated under the shadow of a recent multimillion‑dollar sexual‑assault judgment that the union is appealing via bankruptcy protection.

Speakers framed the union’s message as urgency and grievance: rally to protect policing from “socialists” and reform efforts. Self‑help, militarized leadership coaching from figures like Tom Rizzo mixed with federal security officials’ praise for information‑sharing and 287(g) partnerships that embed ICE in local policing. The rhetoric emphasized victimhood, hardline immigration enforcement, and resistance to demilitarization or accountability reforms. Taken together, the convention showcased a police‑union culture aligned with conservative policies, close ties to federal enforcement programs, and an inward, defensive politics at odds with segments of the broader labor movement.