LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Henderson’s city manager said firing former police chief Hollie Chadwick was her decision but otherwise dodged the 8 News Now Investigators’ questions and offered an as-yet-unscheduled appointment to discuss the matter further.
Stephanie Garcia-Vause, sworn in as city manager in December 2024, turned down multiple requests for an in-person, on-camera interview since she fired Chadwick on March 6. Chadwick, who took the city’s top law enforcement job in May 2023, refused the city’s demand she resign and Garcia-Vause fired her. She said in a statement, ” … the decision was not based upon any finding of specific misconduct by chief Chadwick, and it is not considered a separation for ’cause.'”
But beyond that statement, Garcia-Vause has said little to nothing publicly about Chadwick or the search for a new police chief. People speaking at public comment in the Feb. 18, 2025, Henderson City Council meeting demanded transparency.
“The city manager can’t look us in the face,” one speaker told the council.
She added: “For this woman to come in here and do what you did, after one month. Karma will come.”
But before Karma came, the 8 News Now Investigators found Garcia-Vause Thursday on her way into a police awards ceremony.
Some of the exchange between the 8 News Now Investigators and Garcia-Vause are as follows:
8NN Investigators: Why is there such secrecy around the police department?
Garcia-Vause: There’s no secrecy.
8NN Investigators: Why did you fire the chief?
Garcia-Vause: Um, the chief is an at-will employee.
8NN Investigators: What did she do?
Garcia-Vause: There’s no, no thing to talk about right now.
8NN Investigators: Well, no, … she left, there’s been so many chiefs in so few years. So why?
Garcia-Vause: I appreciate it.
8NN Investigators: We just want some answers.
Garcia-Vause: I appreciate that, and I’d love to talk to you. I’m just on my way into an event.
8NN Investigators: Who’s making the decisions in the city? You?
Garcia-Vause: Thank you so much. I appreciate your time.
8NN Investigators: Were you hired to fire the chief?
Garcia-Vause: No. I’m hired to be the city manager.
Chadwick, whose attorney also did not respond to 8 News Now’s request for an interview, lowered crime rates in Henderson in the short time she was chief of police, information obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators reveals. Specifically, crimes against the person — generally consisting of such offenses as murder, assault, battery, kidnapping — went down over 4% between 2023 and 2024, national records show. And property crimes — generally consisting of such offenses as theft, burglary, arson — went down more than 12.5% in the same time period.
The city has not responded to a request made after Thursday’s interview to speak on camera, in person, with Garcia-Vause and Mayor Michelle Romero, despite repeated offers for the 8 News Now Investigators to schedule a meeting with her assistant saying, “I’d love to have the opportunity to talk to you more.”
