Henderson Police Chief Hollie Chadwick poses at Henderson City Hall in Henderson Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Chadwick, a member of the Henderson Police Department since 2002, was officially sworn in as police chief Tuesday, May 2.
Friday, May 5, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Nevada law enforcement issues
Henderson Police Chief Hollie Chadwick was sworn in Tuesday as the department’s 15th chief since the city was incorporated in 1953.
Chadwick succeeds Thedrick Andres, who had led the police department since 2019.
Andres, who came to Henderson from Arlington, Texas, retired in February after a no-confidence vote by the 460 officers in the Henderson Police Officers Association and Henderson Police Supervisors Association.
Chadwick, a Las Vegas Valley native, has worked for the department for 21 years and decided on a career in law enforcement in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Chadwick said she planned to build morale, increase collaboration and have an open dialogue regarding concerns, successes and ideas.
Is the Henderson Police Department properly funded and structured or are changes needed?
The city of Henderson is fully committed to public safety and has funded public safety with 60% of its general fund; that’s a very generous allocation.
Our department is fortunate to have the full support of the mayor and council and city leadership, who continue to back our efforts and prioritize public safety.
Additionally, the city of Henderson and Henderson Police Department are able to apply for and utilize different grants to assist with additional equipment needs and adding various technology to our department to increase our crime prevention efforts.
Your predecessor retired after a no-confidence vote by union members. He was accused of not sticking to collective bargaining agreements and not getting union input on a new use-of-force policy. Do you think the criticism was fair, and how do you plan to proceed on these types of issues?
As chief, communication is a priority of mine. Active and engaged listening and collaboration are crucial for productive and effective partnerships. I have great positive working relationships with our unions and look forward to maintaining those throughout my tenure.
I am a huge proponent of communication, listening and problem-solving. There may be times we can agree to disagree, but what’s important is the mutual trust and respect we’ll always have in our conversations.
Have you or do you plan to meet with union leadership, and what will your message be to the rank-and-file officers?
When I speak with our officers and union leadership, I let them know that this is a great new beginning to build morale, build collaboration and to begin open dialogue on concerns, successes and ideas. I am thrilled to see the positive momentum our department is already experiencing, and I am committed to maintaining it. I appreciate and respect all of our officers, civilian employees and partners for their opinions and ideas.
Currently, I hold monthly meetings with each collective bargaining unit. They know they can contact me anytime to discuss issues or concerns through open dialogue to find solutions that benefit all sides.
The union referred to your predecessor as an “outsider” on a “mission to fix and reform a department which was not broken.” The city manager, on the other hand, described you as someone with “institutional knowledge of our city.” Do you think the Henderson Police Department is resistant to change or reform, especially if it is viewed as coming from an “outsider?”
We have phenomenal police, corrections and civilian employees. They are as dedicated as I am to keeping our residents safe and building positive relationships with our community members.
Change is hard. That’s why it’s paramount to have clear and transparent communication. It takes every person in the department to accomplish our goals, and I truly value and appreciate the feedback along the way.
It’s also important to embrace change as a positive catalyst, and we must continue to evolve with our profession and the needs of our community.
Communication is the key component to identifying what change is needed and how to integrate department members into the decision-making process, so they take ownership of the changes we are implementing.
You’ve been with HPD for 21 years. What kind of changes have you seen within the department in that time and what kind of changes or reforms do you think are needed today?
The Henderson Police Department is one of the most premier policing agencies in the country. I have seen this department grow and develop well-trained officers committed to serving our residents and businesses.
I have seen many positive changes over the course of my career to include diversity, technological advances, advanced training with our employees, effective communication and valuing each member of our community.
Policing is a difficult profession, and we must continue to identify and hire the most qualified and capable officers to help us protect this amazing community.Our goal is to ensure everyone feels safe in the city of Henderson.
What are the biggest challenges facing the department?
Like so many police agencies across the country, our biggest challenge is recruitment. One of my priorities is to refine our recruitment efforts. I also would like to engage with our youths and show them how fulfilling a career in law enforcement can be. I believe it’s vital for our department to be integrated into our community and show everyone what policing is. These interactions can spark inspiration for someone to choose a career in law enforcement.
An analysis by MoneyGeek ranked Henderson the third-safest city this year among U.S. municipalities with more than 300,000 residents. What factors — policing and otherwise — do you think lead to a ranking like that, and what are the biggest threats to seeing Henderson turn more dangerous?
MoneyGeek is an objective third party that uses data collected by the FBI to determine the results of their rankings.
The results of their evaluation are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our officers and civilian staff who work selflessly to keep our community one of the safest in the nation.
Our primary goal is to protect and serve our community and ensure this is a safe place to live.
We value the rankings of being identified as a safe city, but it is even more important to us to ensure that each member of our community feels safe each and every day.
After 21 years, can you describe your best and worst days as a police officer in Henderson?
I thoroughly enjoy attending community events to interact with everyone who lives in Henderson.I grew up in this valley and truly care about everyone who lives, works and raises their families here. It is a complete privilege to be able to engage with our community.
I have experienced a lot during my career, and it has come with its share of difficult times. I remind myself why I chose this profession, and that’s to make a difference in someone’s life.
You have dual bachelor’s degrees from UNLV in athletic training and in sports and fitness management, as well as a master’s in kinesiology and exercise. Were you thinking about a career in sports at one time, and how did you end up in law enforcement?
When I attended UNLV, I was very interested in the medical profession. When 9/11 occurred, that changed the trajectory of my life and was the moment I chose to become a police officer, serve my community, and save lives in a different way.
I have truly been blessed to have chosen this career and (am) honored to serve the residents of Henderson.
Are you a sports fan and what are your favorite teams?
You have to root for the hometown teams of course! I love sports and enjoy having these professional teams right here in our backyard, including our very own Henderson professional teams.
As a native, I love UNLV and all the athletics programs.
I am a fan of our Las Vegas Aces, Raiders, Aviators, Desert Dogs lacrosse, Silver Knights, Knight Hawks and our Vegas Golden Knights. I wear a lapel pin on my uniform of the Golden Knights, and I am so excited we are in the playoffs.]
