LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Throughout a uncommon media day, Henderson’s metropolis supervisor appeared to have dodged a parade of reporters’ questions relating to a current police chief’s firing. Is that this what transparency seems like?
For over a month, residents have been requesting the rationale why Henderson’s metropolis supervisor, Stephanie Garcia-Vause, fired former police chief Hollie Chadwick. Town communication workforce emailed again this week with an opportunity for reporters to ask Garcia-Vause questions, and an opportunity to be taught what the subsequent steps will likely be.
Town’s largest media retailers went to Henderson Metropolis Corridor at completely different hours so every publication might get their probability to ask questions.
The trouble to supply extra info to the general public, not showing to land. One reporter left the interview expressing frustration to eight Information Now on the means they have been dealt with by town communications workforce and the obvious tactic to fill the interview with info from a memo—which 8 Information Now reported first Tuesday—as town supervisor appeared to sidestep questions relating to the previous police chief.
After repeated guarantees of transparency, town supervisor fielded 8 Information Now’s questions.
Garcia-Vause declined to initially acknowledge the primary query about why the previous police chief was fired as a substitute repeating ready strains from her memo.
“Today’s a good day to talk about the future of the Henderson Police Department, for the department, and for our community,” she mentioned. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent time talking to our officers, trying to understand what qualities they would like to see in their next chief.”
Garcia-Vause mentioned the seek for the police chief will begin this week with the hope of hiring a brand new police chief this summer season. She proceeded to make use of precise language from her memo and thanked the police division.
“If I can say thank you to our Henderson police officers who have been grace under pressure,” she mentioned. “I know this can’t be easy for them. It’s a challenging time, but they continue to do the great work keeping our communities safe and keeping the city one of the safest cities in the country.”
She acknowledged the general public’s questions and thanked them for his or her endurance and mentioned her workforce is dedicated to a course of that’s going to end in an ideal chief for the long run.
8 Information Now requested what particular cause she fired the previous police chief, and what she meant when she cited differing “leadership styles.”
“Thank you for that question,” she mentioned. “And we are committed to transparency here at the City of Henderson.”
Garcia-Vause proceeded to level to town’s public conferences, social media posts, and outreach as causes town is dedicated to transparency—showing to keep away from the query.
“What we’re here to talk about is really the recruitment process,” she mentioned. “And I’m not going to be talking about personnel matters.”
The Metropolis of Henderson has gone by a number of police chiefs prior to now twenty years, some solely working for round two years earlier than getting fired. Garcia-Vause has solely been metropolis supervisor for one in every of these firings. 8 Information Now requested for her response to the short-lived nature of town’s police chiefs.
“We are well aware of the changes that have been taking place in the police department over the last few years,” she mentioned. “And what I can assure you, and any candidates that are coming in to interview with the City of Henderson, that we are committed to finding that right leader.”
8 Information Now requested town supervisor if she has sought recommendation from Councilman Jim Seebock, a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police assistant sheriff.
“I speak with all of our council,” she mentioned. “This week, I think I’ve spoken with four of the five of them. So Councilman Seebock is one of our council, so of course, I’m talking to him.”
8 Information Now requested if Garcia-Vause has sought recommendation or communicated with the police unions relating to the previous police chief.
“I’m in contact with all of our city employees, regardless of whether or not they’re members of unions or not, or in any of those capacities,” she mentioned. “I think it’s important for us to have strong relationships with all of our all of our employees, and to listen to their feedback.”
Garcia-Vause was then requested if she is concerned in lively litigation with the previous police chief, a doable cause she couldn’t remark. Metropolis communications employees requested 8 Information Now to keep away from questions not targeted on info from the memo.
“James, we are talking about the path forward with the new recruitment,” a metropolis spokesperson standing close by mentioned. “Please.”
8 Information Now requested what qualities she was looking for from the brand new police chief and he or she repeated a line from her memo. She was requested once more why she fired the previous police chief.
“Our policies really don’t allow us to discuss personnel matters,” she mentioned. “So that would be a violation of city policies, on my account as well.”
The Henderson Metropolis Constitution, adopted in 1971, provides town supervisor the power to fireside a police chief with out the necessity for offering a cause, based on Sec. 3.020.
“Because of our city policies, our city policies don’t allow us to comment on personnel matters,” she mentioned once more. “That’s really the reason why you won’t hear more.”
Precisely 10 minutes into the interview, metropolis communications employees mentioned town supervisor had one other appointment and thanked 8 Information Now for the interview.
