HENDERSON (KLAS) — A broadly circulated launch obtained by 8 Information Now supplies a timeline of occasions that finally led Henderson Metropolis Supervisor Stephanie Garcia-Vause to fireplace then-police chief Hollie Chadwick.
The redacted Metropolis of Henderson emails reveal new particulars about a number of considerations with regulation enforcement and the fraught relationship between town supervisor and police chief. Quite a lot of of the emails are much like public requests from 8 Information Now which have gone unfulfilled for months.
A Hollie Chadwick for Mayor marketing campaign spokesperson advised 8 Information Now they’ve seen the report, and so they allege a number of responses from the previous police chief weren’t included within the launch.
The next are a number of excerpts from the broadly circulated launch.
Cocaine within the detective’s desk
On Dec. 9, 2024, Garcia-Vause requested Chadwick to answer a number of considerations raised, together with cocaine discovered on police property.
“Regarding a narcotics detective found with cocaine in his desk in October 2024,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “Was he ever drug tested? What is the policy when that happens?”
Chadwick wrote in response that the incident was totally investigated by the police division’s inside affairs bureau, which by no means drug examined the detective.
Hollie Chadwick, a former Henderson Police Division chief, pronounces the launch of her marketing campaign on Could 22, 2025, for the Henderson mayor’s seat. (KLAS)
“No, the officer was not drug tested because he was not under the influence and there was no reason to test him,” Chadwick mentioned. “This was an unfortunate oversight from an officer who works long hours for our department. In addition, he is part of the narcotics unit, which is subject to random drug tests throughout the year per policy.”
The narcotics detective was described by Chadwick as by no means failing a random drug take a look at to the perfect of her data.
“Do not misunderstand”
On Feb. 5, Garcia-Vause outlined an inventory of considerations she needed addressed by Chadwick which ranged from OIS process to inside complaints. Town supervisor ended the e-mail with a collection of explanations of how totally different she can be from former metropolis supervisor Richard Derick.
“I am hearing many of the same complaints, including – favoritism in promotions and specialized assignments, inconsistent or unfair discipline, inconsistent policy applications or ignoring policy altogether, and a culture of retaliation,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “Just to name a few.”
Garcia-Vause drew parallels for Chadwick from a speech she watched delivered by LVMPD Deputy Chief Sasha Larkin wherein she talked about how she wished she did extra after leaving the scene of a battered girl, explaining she didn’t “close the loop.”
Henderson’s metropolis supervisor, Stephanie Garcia-Vause, fired former police chief Hollie Chadwick. (KLAS)
“You communicated to me that you do not feel supported by me,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “Please do not misunderstand my concerns and desire to improve the operations and culture of the department as a lack of support. To the contrary, I am invested in ensuring that Henderson has the best police department in the state.”
Town supervisor defined that as a part of her effort to implement operational change and cultural reforms, she would place retired police chief Kristen Ziman to work with Chadwick each day to find out easy methods to enhance Chadwick’s efforts.
“To be successful in leading the changes,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “I need you to refrain from immediately getting defensive when I ask questions or whenever a problem is brought to your attention.”
“This is exciting and I look forward to meeting Kristen and collaborating for her,” Chadwick wrote in response.
In-custody dying
On Feb. 6, Chadwick responded to a request from Henderson Councilwoman Monica Larson concerning an inmate, J. Chrusch. She apologized to Larson for not responding inside the 48 hours required and enforced by state regulation.
“My apologies that this notification is beyond the 48 hours,” Chadwick wrote. “I take full responsibility and moving forward it will not happen again.”
“I don’t appreciate these type of surprises”
On Dec. 2, 2024, the Metropolis of Henderson Police Division acquired a public information request from the Las Vegas Assessment-Journal looking for names and different data for ICE detainees.
9 days later, the LVRJ allegedly acquired full names, inmate IDs, reserving and launch dates of ICE inmates throughout the requested timeframe.
Garcia-Vause wrote in an e mail that she discovered the discharge to be “problematic,” citing a regulation that she alleged barred Henderson from releasing any such materials.
“ICE detainees cannot be treated the same as our other inmates,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “Different laws apply, and we are under different obligations pursuant to our contract with ICE.”
However the concern grew when Henderson was contacted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division concerning the LVRJ story.
“Metro contacted us to inquire why we would release information about our ICE detainees when the law prohibits us from doing so,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “I do not appreciate these types of surprises.”
“One voice”
Following the discharge of knowledge to the LVRJ, Garcia-Vause ramped up conversations to merge the police division’s public data workplace (PIO) with town’s workplace.
“It is important that the City speak to the public with one voice and deliver a consistent message to members of the media and other community stakeholders,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “Having a department PIO division outside of the City’s Public Information Office is inefficient and leads to inconsistencies.”
Garcia-Vause requested Chadwick to write down up a draft of a transition plan for handing over all obligations to town.
Chadwick wrote in response that she was assembly with metropolis communication director Karina Milani on Feb. 10 to debate and establish a transition plan.
Jail break
On Feb. 6, Garcia-Vause and different metropolis employees mentioned the easiest way to resolve a “jail breach” on the detention heart on Water Avenue by an unnamed inmate.
“All gates were secured,” Chadwick wrote. “He was able to slide thru the razor wire and slide down. As soon as he got to the ground by the maintenance area the cameras spotted him and he was taken into custody.”
Some employees instructed an enchancment be made to the wall or the upkeep gates which would come with razor wire. Garcia-Vause wrote she would wish to see how the razor wire appeared given it may be seen from Water Avenue. Chadwick additionally characterised the razor wire as a doable “eye sore.”
“I’m interested in hearing more about the gates and whether or not they were secured,” Garcia-Vause wrote.
Finally, a police captain on the detention heart instructed a collection of fixes, together with elevating the wall top and organising a short lived chain hyperlink fence, however added the safety addition can be an “eyesore.”
Officers go away the scene of OIS
Garcia-Vause emailed Chadwick to make clear what occurred throughout an Oct. 27, 2023, officer-involved taking pictures. The incident, on the 2300 block of N. Inexperienced Valley Pkwy, resulted in Chadwick taking two concerned law enforcement officials off-site to a fireplace station.
“Will you please clarify the policy or procedure that governs this,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “It has been stated that there were no body cams, or witnesses with you and that the two officers did not do their PBT (Preliminary Breath Test), nor were they drug tested or counted down before leaving the scene to use the restroom.”
Chadwick emailed Garcia-Vause again that she was checking on the 2 officers who indicated they wanted to make use of the restroom. The police chief famous the investigative models weren’t on scene but, and the general investigation might take hours.
“I made the decision to have them get in my vehicle and | took them to the nearest fire station, which was two blocks down the street,” she wrote. “We were there approximately five minutes. We all walked in, they used the restroom, and we responded back to the scene.”
The officers’ physique cameras had been taken to obtain video from the incident previous to leaving the scene, in line with Chadwick.
“This OIS was investigated fully and there were no issues with their PBT results, drug test, or count down,” Chadwick wrote. “To indicate otherwise is to discredit the integrity of the two officers involved in this critical incident and has zero merit.”
Chadwick wrote that there have been plans to buy a motorhome for vital incidents so officers might use amenities.
Self-discipline after SWAT Staff retreat
Garcia-Vause emailed Chadwick to clarify what the response was after a June 2024 SWAT Staff retreat in Utah noticed a senior officer passing an unsealed alcoholic beverage to a much less senior officer.
Garcia-Vause emailed Chadwick asking her to clarify the division’s response concerning a senior officer who handed an unsealed alcoholic beverage to a much less senior officer at a June 2024 SWAT Staff retreat in Utah.
“This incident was fully investigated by our Internal Affairs Bureau while adhering to the officers NRS rights and their collective bargaining agreement,” Chadwick wrote. “Officers did receive discipline, accepted the discipline, and continue to learn from their mistakes and move forward in a positive direction.”
The retirement gun
Garcia-Vause wrote that she discovered it unacceptable that Chadwick and members of the police command workforce weren’t attending celebrations involving town council and metropolis government employees.
“Showing up for elected officials and colleagues shows respect and builds trust,” Garcia-Vause wrote.
One of many celebrations which the police division didn’t seem to attend, in line with Garcia-Vause, was a celebration held for an outgoing councilman.
“It was not acceptable that neither you nor anyone from your Command Team was present for the retirement celebration of Councilman Shaw,” Garcia-Vause wrote.
“Absolutely,” Chadwick wrote in response. “Now that we know the expectations, we will ensure a presence at all these events.”
The retirement matter shifted into obvious favoritism for particular police employees. One instance included by Garcia-Vause included a particular retirement gun bought by a deputy chief (DC).
“Deputy Chief Boucher used his position and City email to request his subordinates donate to a retiring lieutenant who was a personal friend of his,” Garcia-Vause wrote. “The department does not request donations to purchase gifts for all retiring officers, so Deputy Chief Boucher’s email gave the perception of favoritism.”
“I have spoke with HR and DC Boucher and he understands that he will not use city email again for this type of request,” Chadwick wrote in response. “DC Boucher did confirm he did not use any city purchasing power for the retirement gift.”
Alleged DUI coverup
In an e mail despatched to Garcia-Vause, a Henderson Police Division retired sergeant wrote that they had been the sufferer of continuous office harassment supported by Chadwick.
“My retirement was a direct result of continual workplace harassment that was supported by Police Chief Hollie Chadwick,” the retired sergeant wrote.
The retired sergeant alleged that they had been the lead investigator who accomplished a “DUI cover-up investigation.”
“Chief Chadwick inexplicably sustained the involved Officers with low level discipline even though the investigative report established that significant Officer misconduct occurred,” the retired sergeant wrote. “The Officers involved met the threshold in our disciplinary matrix where they should have all been placed on a Brady list for untruthfulness and terminated.”
Chadwick and the deputy chief had been claimed to have turned a blind eye to important misconduct and allegedly accused inside affairs of an extreme overreach.
“That could be the furthest from the truth,” the retired sergeant wrote. “Yet it was fully supported by Chief Chadwick when she was asked to explain the decisions she made.”
The e-mail to Garcia-Vause ends with accusations of corruption and poor administration, which the retired chief asks to be investigated.
“I am sincerely sorry you had to endure the workplace environment you described,” Garcia-Vause wrote in response. “I would like to know more about the incident you shared and your experiences in the police department.”
Garcia-Vause thanked the retired sergeant by e mail and wrote that she appeared ahead to assembly them.
