LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Henderson city councilwoman and at least one member of the public criticized the city manager’s controversial choice to oust its police chief on the same day a neighboring community buried an officer shot and killed in the line of duty.
As the city council and mayor fielded criticism Tuesday from an impassioned crowd of constituents and plain-clothed Henderson police commenting on the effective exile of chief Hollie Chadwick, Ward III Councilwoman Carrie Cox criticized – among other things- the timing of the controversial personnel maneuver.
Family, friends, fellow police officers, and the public bid farewell Thursday to Officer Jason Roscow Thursday during a procession and funeral for the North Las Vegas officer who was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 4. Chadwick was given an ultimatum – resign or she is fired – also on Thursday.
“There was a funeral going on for a North Las Vegas police officer,” Cox said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “And our officers that were working this funeral… were there to attend, had their cell phones just being lit up with text messages. I felt that the timing of this should have been another day at a minimum. I have heard from over 57 members of the community and from our department with dozens of emails from Thursday to Monday.”
After the councilmembers and Mayor Michelle Romero addressed the capacity crowd in attendance to show support for Chadwick – including one councilwoman who panned certain “grandstanding” – a Henderson resident echoed Cox’s sentiment about Roscow’s funeral.
“My last concern, and it’s a great one, is that she [Chadwick] and the public were advised of her leave on the very solemn and difficult day a North Las Vegas police officer was honored,” Amanda Swartz, a Henderson resident, said at the end of a public comment in support of Chadwick. “My concern is if this happened to be a Henderson police officer funeral and procession, would the same thing have happened on that day.”
“I encourage you to reinstate Chief Chadwick,” Swartz continued. “There is no other way. It is not right what has been done.”
The day after the news of Chadwick’s departure, Cox spoke at length with the 8 News Now Investigators. In that exclusive interview, she first expressed dismay at both Chadwick being forced out as well as the city’s timing.
“I felt that they should have been able to have their time to have closure, to be able to deal with that before we deal with the next thing,” Cox said Friday.
In a statement that distanced itself from Cox’s comments Friday evening, the city wrote: “Councilwoman Cox speaks on her own behalf,” the statement said. “She does not speak on behalf of the city. The city manager presides over city operations and personnel matters such as this, not the mayor or individual members of council.”
In response to an 8 News Now Investigators’ request for comment concerning the timing of the ultimatum given to Chadwick, a City of Henderson spokesperson said:
“To be clear, the City did not contact, or release any information about Chief Chadwick’s personnel matter to the media. As a matter of practice, the City maintains confidentiality on personnel matters.
As a matter of practice, the City maintains confidentiality on personnel matters. Chief Chadwick reports to the City Manager and the City Manager schedules regular meetings with Chief Chadwick. The standing meeting on February 13 at 10am was rescheduled to 4:30pm at the City Manager’s request, to allow Chief Chadwick to pay her respects to our fallen hero.”
The 8 News Now Investigators received no immediate response from North Las Vegas police when asked about Cox’s comments surrounding Roscow’s funeral coinciding with Chadwick’s removal.
Chadwick’s tenure as police chief ended after 19 months as the city’s top cop, which followed 21 previous years on the force.
