After 28 Years, Steve Grammas Steps Away From the Badge and the Union Presidency

After three decades in law enforcement, Steve Grammas is retiring. He steps down after serving three consecutive terms as PPA president, capping a career that began not with a badge but with a civilian post directing traffic outside a high school.

A Career That Started on Foot Patrol

Grammas's law enforcement career spans 28 years, and it did not begin in a patrol car. "I started as a civilian," he said. "High school work patrol – I was a field training officer." From there, he moved through a series of increasingly specialized assignments — the problem-solving unit and then the narcotics team, where he worked as a case agent before being selected for undercover work.

"I worked as a case agent in narcotics until I was selected as a UC," he said. "I spent my last year and a half as a UC and in narcotics."

That undercover work marked the final chapter of his time on the street. In 2014, Grammas was elected to a seat on the PPA's Board of Directors. Two years later, his colleagues elected him president — a position he would hold for three terms.

Building the Bench

Asked to name his biggest accomplishment in the role, Grammas didn't point to a policy victory or a contract negotiation. He pointed to people.

"I've always said I have a really good eye for talent," he said. "I think bringing up the right people to do the job here has been the most impactful thing I've done."

He credited the union's staff and leadership for the organization's success rather than taking credit himself. "Any good leader recognizes that they're not the one doing the work," he said. "It's the other folks, and the guys up here are just amazing in what they do, how professional they are, and the training they have."

A Run for City Council — and a Loss That Taught Him Something

Grammas's time in union leadership put him close to local politics for years, but he found that observing the political process and running for office were two very different experiences. In an unsuccessful bid for Las Vegas City Council, he said he learned just how demanding a campaign can be.

"Even though I've been around politics in this position, it's different to be a candidate," he said. "It means going out and knocking on doors, talking to people, and doing fundraisers, which isn't easy to learn."

He also came away with a sharper understanding of campaign mechanics — from the timing of mailers and text outreach to the dynamics of voter turnout in a primary versus a general election.

Despite the loss, Grammas said the experience surprised him in a positive way. "I learned that I had the capacity to go out and talk to people, and it's something I enjoy doing," he said. "It was fun for me."

The Cost to Family

Grammas is a family man — married, with several daughters — and he was candid about what more than a decade of union leadership asked of them.

"You give up a lot, but you can still balance work, life, and home life," he said. "As I've told all the folks who work at the union, it's important to prioritize family first. We can figure out the work part second. But yeah, you miss birthdays, you miss events, you miss holidays. When the phone goes off, you've gotta be there."

He said his family has understood the demands of the job — and that their patience is part of what made the decision to retire an easy one. "They all recognize it, and they know it, and that's why the decision to retire is so easy," he said. "I owe it to them to come back to them and be a part of their lives for the rest of mine."

What He'll Miss

Grammas hasn't worked a patrol shift in 12 years, but he still speaks about policing with reverence. "I love the job I did," he said. "It's the most noble profession on the planet, I believe."

What he says he'll miss most is the people he worked alongside at the PPA. "I'm gonna miss the guys on the team at the PPA," he said. "I'm gonna miss the fight, but we do a good job of not fighting when we don't need to."

He described years of political and administrative work alongside close colleagues. "When it comes to the friendships, the friends I have up here, seeing them every day, that's the part that's gonna be tough."

Passing the Torch

Grammas was direct about what he hopes his successor prioritizes: the membership, not the office. "Stay the course and realize that it's about our members, not about us," he said. "Don't be lazy. Push yourself to do new things. Be an innovator and find ways to change what we do for the better. The ultimate goal is to leave this place better than when you found it."

He offered a clear endorsement for who should take the reins next. "I think our next guy – and I've told everyone, Dan (Coyne) is my choice and has been – is just so good at what he does," he said. "I'm so excited to see what this union looks like."

Life After the PPA

As for his own plans, Grammas is looking forward to more time on the golf course — a hobby he credits his friend David Roger with introducing him to. "I had a good friend named David Roger introduce me to this sport, break me down, and show me how to swing," he said. "Since then, it's been a passion of mine to go out, keep getting better, and play the game."

He also plans to travel with his family, and several trips are already planned. Reflecting on his financial position after nearly three decades of public service, Grammas said he and his family have been careful planners. "I'm very fortunate that we were smart with our money and I don't need to work," he said. "I'm actually gonna take a pay raise to retire, so I'm very fortunate and blessed to have had the career we had, which can afford me that opportunity."

A Final Word to the Rank and File

As for closing thoughts, Grammas turned his attention to the officers he has spent his career representing. "You're gonna have bad days, you're gonna have bad bosses, and you're gonna second-guess whether you're in the right field," he said. "Just stay the course. See this career through. Listen to your union. Trust in these folks. Listen to your attorney."

He closed with a reminder of where the union's loyalties lie. "At the end of the day, the only job for this union is to look out for you," he said. "It's not to look out for Metro, the city of Las Vegas, nobody. It's just you. Trust that. Lean on them, be safe, and make sure you have a good, long career."