LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – An arbitrator has upheld a Henderson Police Division resolution to fireplace a sergeant following an inside investigation which discovered he used GPS blockers on squad autos and inappropriately touched a feminine officer.
The arbitrator’s resolution, first obtained by the 8 Information Now Investigators, element the actions of Sgt. Anthony Sanchez-Martinez from the preliminary investigation to his firing and subsequent enchantment by his union. The arbitrator in the end determined he was terminated by town for simply trigger.
The arbitration dominated in favor of the Metropolis of Henderson Police Division in a grievance filed by the police union, The Henderson Police Supervisors Affiliation.
On Feb. 13, 2024, the Metropolis of Henderson Police Division Workplace of Inner Affairs obtained data that Sanchez-Martinez was having a sexual relationship with a feminine officer that he instantly supervised, and some days later, have been knowledgeable of Sanchez-Martinez’s intimate contact with at the very least two different feminine officers, in line with the arbitrator.
“Three days later [Sanchez-Martinez] was placed on administrative leave with pay pending further investigation,” Richard Beens, the arbitrator, wrote, citing the interior investigation.
Following two weeks of interviews with inside affairs and a 24-page report, Sanchez-Martinez was launched from division responsibility and required to show in his badges and gear.
What did inside affairs discover?
Sanchez-Martinez was promoted to sergeant for the Henderson Police Division in Aug. 2023 and was positioned in command of a 10-person squad. Based on the interior investigation’s report, Sanchez-Martinez began a relationship with a feminine member of the squad.
Sanchez-Martinez and the feminine would meet a number of occasions in squad autos and use GPS blockers to hide their places throughout meetups—which included a mountain highway overlooking town and in a business warehouse district, in line with the interior investigation’s report.
“In order to ensure privacy for their clandestine meetings, [Sanchez-Martinez] purchased two GPS blockers,” Richard Beens, the arbitrator, wrote citing the interior investigation. “A simple device that plugs into a vehicle’s cigarette lighter, it electronically blocks the GPS signals emitted from the officer’s computer.”
One other motion highlighted by the interior investigation report occurred in Dec. 2023, an incident throughout a “team building” effort at an area bar and restaurant following a Golden Knights sport.
The inner investigation discovered Sanchez-Martinez inappropriately touched a feminine subordinate officer when she leaned ahead—inflicting a niche between the again of her denims and sweatshirt.
“Shortly after leaning forward, [female officer] felt a cold hand going down against her skin inside the back of her jeans,” Richard Beens, the arbitrator, wrote, citing the interior investigation. “Startled, she stood up, turned to see [Sanchez-Martinez] behind her, and uttered, ‘What the f— are you doing?’”
The inner investigation report discovered Sanchez-Martinez “just sort of laughed” in response. The feminine officer moved to a different seat to keep away from additional contact. The incident was noticed by one other officer, in line with the interior investigation. The feminine officer reported the incident two months after it occurred.
The police chief’s resolution
In June 2024, Sanchez-Martinez was given a pre-disciplinary discover and a listening to was performed. Then Henderson Police Chief Hollie Chadwick reviewed the case and filed her findings and intent to terminate Sanchez-Martinez, in line with the arbitration doc.
Sanchez-Martinez formally challenged the choice made by Chadwick. A closing enchantment was denied by the Henderson Assistant Metropolis Supervisor in Aug. 2024.
8 Information Now reached out to the police union’s legal professional for remark relating to the arbitrator’s resolution.
“We will be appealing the arbitrator’s decision,” Andrew Regenbaum, the police union’s legal professional mentioned. “We believe he misapplied the facts and the law. We felt that the internal affairs investigation was directed improperly by leadership.”
