Henderson Police Chief Placed on Leave After Alleged Union Busting

Posted on: February 17, 2025, 02:11h. 

Last updated on: February 17, 2025, 10:07h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

• Chief Hollie Chadwick got into a dispute with the police union
• Reported issues over overtime by union official
• She reportedly has until next month to let the city know if she will take buyout

Henderson, Nevada Police Chief Hollie Chadwick was put on administrative leave last week after reported run-ins with union members, according to news reports.

City officials reportedly ordered her to take a buyout or be fired. Chadwick has until March 6 to say if she will officially step down, local media reported.

Unfair Labor Practices

It was revealed in recent days that a local police labor group, the Henderson Police Supervisor Association (HPSA), claimed Chadwick was “union busting” and was guilty of an “unfair labor practice.”

It appears the labor group was pressuring city officials to act about Chadwick.

The city’s decision was not unexpected and was a long time coming,” Andrew Regenbaum, executive director of the Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers, told Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

“The unions look forward to healing the divides that were created within the department and moving ahead collaboratively,” Regenbaum added.

The HPSA claims its president, Lt. Charles Hedrick, was the focus of Chadwick’s anti-union activities, according to Las Vegas TV station KVVU.

The HPSA filed a complaint about Chadwick in December. There was controversy over Hedrick’s using leave days for union activities. It led to him getting overtime.

City officials reportedly held the view that the police chief has the authority to deny union leave if it’s detrimental to business operations. Chadwick rejected claims she was singling out Hedrick.

Transparency Needed

The controversy over Chadwick led Henderson residents to urge that city officials be more transparent about the facts, according to Las Vegas TV station KTNV.

It’s a little upsetting because nobody knows what’s happening,” Amy Terry, one Henderson resident told KTNV. “As a citizen, I think it’s important for everybody to know why, and the fact that they said that she needs to resign or she’s going to be fired like that doesn’t feel good.”

Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox didn’t even know about Chadwick’s situation until it happened, KLAS reported.

“If we do not have effective public safety and we don’t take care of our first responders, and we don’t have enough first responders, then we’re in trouble as a city,” Cox told KLAS.

And that goes to leadership. So, to have our department rocked in this way without any warning or any explanation, I just feel like it needed to be handled differently.”

Chadwick was named Henderson police chief on May 1, 2023.

She first joined the department in August 2002. As she gained more experience, Chadwick was named a training officer and a negotiator. In 2011, she was named a sergeant, and in 2015, was promoted to lieutenant. She was named a captain in 2019.

Itzhak Henn is currently Henderson’s acting police chief.

Police Chief Turnover

Henderson has had a few police chiefs in recent years. Chadwick was the city’s ninth police chief in just 25 years, according to KLAS.

Thedrick Andres was chief between 2019 and 2023. His actions led both the Henderson Police Officers’ Association and the HPSA to take a no-confidence vote in Andres, according to news reports. He eventually retired.

Watson and Moers both have sued the city.