Henderson Police Department
| Henderson Police Department | |
|---|---|
| Common name | Henderson Police |
| Abbreviation | HPD |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1953 |
| Preceding agency |
|
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Henderson, Nevada, United States |
 | |
| Jurisdictional area shown within Clark County | |
| Size | 279.0 |
| Population | 302,539 |
| Legal jurisdiction | Henderson, Nevada |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 223 Lead St. Henderson, NV, 89015 |
| Police Officers | 350 (2009) |
| Corrections and Civilians | 189 (2009) |
| Elected officers responsible |
|
| Agency executive |
|
| Facilities | |
| Area Commands | 3 |
| Detention Centers | Henderson Detention Center 243 Water St |
| Website | |
| Henderson Police Department | |
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.[1]
History
[edit]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.[2]
Organization
[edit]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.[3]
Misconduct
[edit]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.[7][8]
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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
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.[14]
Rank structure
[edit]| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Chief of Police | |
| Deputy Chief | |
| Captain | |
| Lieutenant | |
| Sergeant | |
| Detective | |
| Police Officer |
References
[edit]- ^ "Police". City of Henderson. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Griffin, Dennis (2005). Policing Las Vegas : a history of law enforcement in southern Nevada. Huntington Press. p. 34. ISBN 9780929712239. OCLC 59282169.
- ^ HPD site accessed march 2012, http://www.cityofhenderson.com/police/organizational_chart.php
- ^ "East Patrol Division". City of Henderson. Archived from the original on 2015-06-28.
- ^ "North Patrol Division". City of Henderson. Archived from the original on 2015-06-21.
- ^ "West Patrol Division". City of Henderson. Archived from the original on 2015-06-29.
- ^ Bruzda, Natalie (July 5, 2016). "Henderson Police Department Promotes Officer Caught Kicking Man in Head After Traffic Stop". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Kane, Arthur (April 20, 2021). "Henderson Officers With Years of Misconduct Kept Working. Confidential Records Reveal Why". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Kane, Arthur (April 20, 2021). "Henderson Officers With Years of Misconduct Kept Working. Confidential Records Reveal Why". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024. Cite error: The named reference "MisconductRecords" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Lopez, Sandy (May 2017). "Henderson Removes Police Chief Patrick Moers; Todd Peters Named Acting Chief". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Apgar, Blake (January 2020). "Henderson Police Department Employees Made Discriminatory Comments Toward Former Black Chief, Records Say". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Erickson, Briana (February 16, 2024). "Henderson Police Covered Up Colleague's DUI, Internal Probe Claims". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Credico, Mark (November 8, 2023). "Henderson police officer shortage addressed by city council". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Erickson, Briana (December 13, 2023). "Henderson to Pay Review-Journal $20K Settlement Over Police Video". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
