Henderson Police Department

{{Infobox law enforcement agency

| agencyname = Henderson Police Department

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| commonname = Henderson Police

| abbreviation = HPD

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| badgecaption = HPD Badge

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| formed = 1953

| preceding1 = Clark County Sheriff's Department

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| country = United States

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| divtype = State

| divname = Nevada

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| subdivtype = City

| subdivname = Henderson

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| map = Clark County Nevada Incorporated Areas Henderson highlighted.svg

| mapcaption = Jurisdictional area shown within Clark County

| sizearea = 279.0

| sizepopulation = 302,539

| legaljuris = Henderson, Nevada

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| headquarters = 223 Lead St. Henderson, NV, 89015

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| sworntype = Police Officer

| sworn = 350 (2009)

| unsworntype = Corrections and Civilians

| unsworn = 189 (2009)

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| minister1name = Michelle Romero

| minister1pfo = Mayor

| minister2name = Richard Derrick

| minister2pfo = City Manager

| chief1name = Itzhak Henn

| chief1position = Acting Chief of Police

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| stationtype = Area Command

| stations = 3

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| lockuptype = Detention Center

| lockups = Henderson Detention Center 243 Water St

| vehicle1type = Marked and Unmarked

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| animal1type = Police K-9

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| website = [http://www.cityofhenderson.com/police Henderson Police Department]

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The Henderson Police Department (HPD) is the police department of the City of Henderson in Clark County in southern Nevada. The department is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). It has 391 sworn police officers, along with support staff.{{Cite web |title=Police |url=https://www.cityofhenderson.com/government/departments/police |access-date=December 5, 2024 |website=City of Henderson}}

History

The City of Henderson Police Department began in 1953 with just seven officers and a borrowed car from the Clark County Sheriff's Department to patrol the city.{{Cite book |last=Griffin |first=Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBfU1QukHPEC |title=Policing Las Vegas : a history of law enforcement in southern Nevada |publisher=Huntington Press |year=2005 |isbn=9780929712239 |pages=34 |oclc=59282169}}

On December 10, 2024, the Henderson Police Supervisory Association (HPSA) filed a complaint against Chief Hollie Chadwick for a series of activities deemed as "union busting" during the preceding six months.{{Cite web |last=Defran |first=Brittany |last2=Saha |first2=Victoria |date=2025-02-15 |title=New details reveal contention between union president, leads to Henderson Police Chief departure |url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2025/02/15/new-details-reveal-contention-between-union-president-leads-henderson-police-chief-departure/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.fox5vegas.com |language=en}} Henderson's ninth police chief during the past 25 years;{{Cite news |last=Paine |first=Kyle J. |date=February 14, 2025 |title=Fallout from Henderson police chief’s abrupt departure escalates as councilwoman, city provide differing responses |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/fallout-from-henderson-police-chiefs-abrupt-departure-escalate-as-councilwoman-city-provide-differing-responses/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=8 News Now}} Chadwick was issued an ultimatum to accept a buy-out and resign,{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=Source: Henderson police chief told to take buyout or be fired |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/henderson/source-henderson-police-chief-told-to-take-buyout-or-be-fired-3304475/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}} or be fired with cause within three weeks, and placed on administrative leave.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-14 |title=Henderson Police Chief on administrative leave |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/henderson-police-chief-on-administrative-leave-2/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250214030420/https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/henderson-police-chief-on-administrative-leave-2/ |archive-date=2025-02-14 |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=KLAS |language=en-US}} The deputy chief, Itzhak Henn, was appointed as the acting chief.

Organization

The police chief is assisted by two deputy chiefs and five officers in the rank of captain. There is also a senior officer designated as corrections superintendent.

One deputy chief heads the Operations Command, the other the Support Command. Each command has a number of divisions, all (except the Corrections Division) headed by a captain.

Operations Command has East, West and North Patrol Divisions.

Support Command has Investigative Service Division, Special Services Division, Technical Services Division and Corrections Division.HPD site accessed march 2012, http://www.cityofhenderson.com/police/organizational_chart.php

East Police Station {{cite web |title=East Patrol Division |url=http://www.cityofhenderson.com/police/patrol-divisions/east-patrol-division |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628193846/http://cityofhenderson.com/police/patrol-divisions/east-patrol-division |archive-date=2015-06-28 |website=City of Henderson}}
North Police Station {{cite web |title=North Patrol Division |url=http://www.cityofhenderson.com/police/patrol-divisions/north-patrol-division |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621043525/http://www.cityofhenderson.com/police/patrol-divisions/north-patrol-division |archive-date=2015-06-21 |website=City of Henderson}}
West Police Station {{cite web |title=West Patrol Division |url=http://www.cityofhenderson.com/police/patrol-divisions/west-patrol-division |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629000518/http://cityofhenderson.com/police/patrol-divisions/west-patrol-division |archive-date=2015-06-29 |website=City of Henderson}}

Misconduct

During a traffic stop on October 29, 2010, HPD Sergeant Brett Seekatz was caught on video repeatedly kicking Adam Greene, a motorist suffering from a diabetic episode. The incident led to a $300,000 settlement and the resignation of Police Chief Jutta Chambers. Despite internal affairs findings of unnecessary force, Seekatz remained on the force and was later promoted to lieutenant.{{cite news |last1=Bruzda |first1=Natalie |date=July 5, 2016 |title=Henderson Police Department Promotes Officer Caught Kicking Man in Head After Traffic Stop |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/henderson-police-department-promotes-officer-caught-kicking-man-in-head-after-traffic-stop/ |access-date=December 5, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}{{cite news |last1=Kane |first1=Arthur |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Henderson Officers With Years of Misconduct Kept Working. Confidential Records Reveal Why |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/henderson-officers-with-years-of-misconduct-kept-working-confidential-records-reveal-why/ |access-date=December 5, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

In 2016, Sergeant Brett Seekatz, implicated in the 2010 Greene incident, was promoted to lieutenant despite his documented history of misconduct, sparking criticism from public accountability advocates.

Police Chief Patrick Moers resigned in 2017 following an external investigation that substantiated sexual harassment allegations against him. The city classified his departure as voluntary, allowing him to collect over $163,000 in unused leave, a decision criticized for concealing the nature of his exit.{{cite news |last1=Lopez |first1=Sandy |date=May 2017 |title=Henderson Removes Police Chief Patrick Moers; Todd Peters Named Acting Chief |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/henderson/henderson-removes-police-chief-patrick-moers-todd-peters-named-acting-chief/ |access-date=December 5, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

Former Police Chief LaTesha Watson filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment during her tenure. Watson reported that HPD staff made derogatory comments about her appearance and referred to her by a racist nickname. She was eventually removed from her position under contentious circumstances.{{cite news |last1=Apgar |first1=Blake |date=January 2020 |title=Henderson Police Department Employees Made Discriminatory Comments Toward Former Black Chief, Records Say |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/ex-henderson-police-chief-sues-city-alleges-racial-discrimination-2129458/ |access-date=December 5, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

In April 2021, an off-duty HPD officer, Katherine Cochran, was involved in a car crash suspected to be caused by intoxication. Internal investigations revealed efforts by officers Marissa Myers and John Bellow to cover up the incident by falsifying reports and muting body cameras. Despite recommendations for their dismissal, Police Chief Hollie Chadwick issued only minor disciplinary actions.{{cite news |last1=Erickson |first1=Briana |date=February 16, 2024 |title=Henderson Police Covered Up Colleague's DUI, Internal Probe Claims |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/henderson-police-covered-up-colleagues-dui-internal-probe-claims/ |access-date=December 5, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

HPD faced significant staffing shortages, leading to $5 million in overtime costs for jail operations over three years. Reports also highlighted lapses in adherence to departmental policies during inmate supervision.{{cite news |last1=Credico |first1=Mark |date=November 8, 2023 |title=Henderson police officer shortage addressed by city council |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/henderson/henderson-takes-action-on-police-officer-shortage-2935729/ |access-date=December 5, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

HPD settled a legal battle with the Las Vegas Review-Journal for $20,000 after attempting to suppress a video exposing jail staff's improper handling of detainees. The department faced criticism for undermining transparency and public accountability.{{cite news |last1=Erickson |first1=Briana |date=December 13, 2023 |title=Henderson to Pay Review-Journal $20K Settlement Over Police Video |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/henderson-to-pay-review-journal-20k-in-legal-battle-over-police-video-2965015/ |access-date=December 5, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

In 2018, James Herndon, a former game warden, was beaten by Henderson police officers after intervening during an armed shoplifting incident at a sporting goods store where he worked. Officers tackled Herndon alongside the fleeing suspect and used excessive force, including punches, kicks, a Taser, and striking him with the butt of an M4 rifle. Herndon sustained significant injuries, including fractured orbital bones, nerve damage, and a concussion, resulting in ongoing physical and cognitive impairments.