Ben Horowitz Donates Cybertrucks to Las Vegas Police

Ben Horowitz Donates Tesla Cybertrucks to Las Vegas Police

Ben Horowitz, a co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, has provided the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with a number of Tesla Cybertrucks. This donation has been officially verified by the police department to TechCrunch.

A History of Support

This Cybertruck delivery represents the newest addition to a series of gifts Horowitz has made to the Las Vegas police force. A detailed report by TechCrunch late last year brought this ongoing relationship to light. Over the past several years, the venture capitalist has contributed over $7 million to the department.

Funding Technology from Portfolio Companies

A significant portion of these funds has been allocated towards acquiring technology originating from companies within the Andreessen Horowitz investment portfolio. Reports from TechCrunch indicated instances where the police department extended opportunities to Horowitz to influence the implementation of this technology.

Announcement and Details of the Gift

Sheriff Kevin McMahill of Las Vegas initially revealed the Cybertruck donation on February 25th during his annual “state of the department” address. He stated that the vehicles were a gift from an anonymous benefactor and would not impact the department’s existing budget. The Las Vegas Review-Journal first identified Ben Horowitz and his wife, Felicia, as the donors.

Benefits of the Donation

“Our primary goal is officer safety, and these vehicles provide that regardless of the situation. They offer ballistic protection and are also a valuable asset in attracting new recruits,” McMahill explained during his address.

While McMahill announced a donation of 10 Cybertrucks, a department spokesperson, speaking anonymously, informed TechCrunch that Horowitz actually donated 11 vehicles. Requests for comment from Horowitz went unanswered.

Concerns Regarding Transparency

Previous donations from Horowitz to the Las Vegas police were channeled through the department’s nonprofit police foundation. Critics of this funding method argue that it compromises transparency and fair competition. However, the department informed the Las Vegas Review-Journal that this particular donation bypassed the police foundation.

TechCrunch’s inquiry regarding the specifics of the donation process received no response from the department.