LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Inside an energetic police station, a volunteer with 5 years of service, who criticized a call by the town supervisor, was advised she was “terminated effective immediately.”
The Metropolis of Henderson doesn’t deny it occurred, and as an alternative of answering why it occurred are disputing the phrase “terminated.”
Amanda Swartz, against the law evaluation unit volunteer, was sitting at her put up on the Henderson West Neighborhood Police Station. Her colleagues would sometimes ask her to evaluate firearm info and evaluate case entries, however her direct supervisor was calling.
“[I] received a call from my boss that the city manager advised Acting Chief Hen and Deputy Chief Brooks to terminate me effective immediately,” Swartz stated. “I got upset. Of course, you know, I cried. Then I realized, ‘Okay, I’m just going to pack my things up.’”
After the decision, her boss got here by her station, talked to her briefly, and he or she drove dwelling.
Amanda Swartz, against the law evaluation unit volunteer, was sitting at her put up on the Henderson West Neighborhood Police Station. Her colleagues would sometimes ask her to evaluate firearm info and evaluate case entries, however her direct supervisor was calling. (Armando Navarro/KLAS)
“I have an extraordinary track record within the department,” Swartz stated. “Never any complaints, nothing but positive feedback, emails and phone calls from the public, from other officers, from our detectives.”
Why was Swartz terminated?
On Feb. 18, Swartz went to a public metropolis council assembly to specific her ideas concerning the firing of former police chief Hollie Chadwick. She would go a number of instances, once more on Mar. 18 and lately on Apr. 1.
“Where is the transparency from most of you,” Swartz stated. “We’re hearing nothing but silence. Almost none of you have said a word. A council member has posted many times on social media ‘the truth will come out.’ So, where is it?”
Two weeks after making her remarks as a Henderson resident at a public metropolis council assembly, Swartz alleged the Metropolis Supervisor Stephanie Garcia-Vause let her go due to her feedback.
“I fully believe this was retaliatory, because I dared to speak up and speak out in the last meeting two weeks ago,” she stated. “I called out, for example, one contract that the city hired, with LCP Consulting for the amount of $30,000 the city was going to pay this consulting firm to advise Garcia-Vause on best practices for the City of Henderson.”
Two weeks after making her remarks as a Henderson resident at a public metropolis council assembly, Swartz alleged the Metropolis Supervisor Stephanie Garcia-Vause let her go due to her feedback. (KLAS)
8 Information Now requested if there have been probably too many volunteers within the police division, and if this was a cost-cutting measure.
“I don’t think the city is bursting with volunteers, but I certainly believe it’s possible some positions could be reviewed, possibly eliminated,” she stated. “I don’t know if we need three assistant city managers, for example.”
Swartz stated if there was a problem together with her efficiency, she would have favored the possibility to speak to Garcia-Vause.
“If there was any concern, any issue at all with me, I would hope that she would have had a conversation with me where we could hear each other’s concerns,” she stated. “And I could take any constructive feedback or criticism from her and maybe corrected some actions.”
The query of why Swartz was fired echoes requests for info from different residents on Chadwick’s firing. Questions requested at metropolis corridor and elsewhere.
“In an interview with Kyle Paine, [Garcia-Vause] said there was no secrecy in the department,” Swartz stated. “If there’s no secrecy, why are you doing this? Why did you fire chief Chadwick? Why did you fire me? All we want is we just want answers, and we’re not getting it.”
Dedication vs. Termination
8 Information Now requested the Metropolis of Henderson reply to questions concerning when Swartz was terminated, why Swartz was terminated, and if Garcia-Vause made her resolution on account of Swartz’s public feedback.
Not one of the questions had been answered in an emailed metropolis response.
The Metropolis of Henderson disputed Swartz was “terminated” since volunteers can’t be terminated.
Right here’s their full response:
“Volunteers are not employees, and therefore they cannot be terminated. The City determines its volunteer needs. We value and appreciate the contribution of over 2,400 volunteers whose dedication has made a positive impact on our community.”
8 Information Now requested Swartz for her response to the town’s response. She expressed astonishment on the metropolis’s assertion.
“I was told I was ‘terminated effective immediately,’” she stated.
