Henderson Police Department promotes officer caught kicking man in head after traffic stop

Brett Seekatz, who was caught on video repeatedly kicking a man in the head during a traffic stop in 2010, has been promoted to a lieutenant within the Henderson Police Department.

The promotion became official on Monday, according to Police Chief Patrick Moers.

“Whatever happened with him, happened six years ago,” Moers said. “I wasn’t chief at the time. Nothing was brought forward on any matters. No criminal charges were filed.”

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who was newly appointed at the time, did not criminally charge Seekatz for his actions.

“We don’t get involved in personnel matters,” Councilwoman Gerri Schroder said Tuesday following the Henderson City Council meeting. “If someone is promoted, chances are, they deserve to be promoted. It’s not for me to say whether there’s a concern or not, because legally, we don’t get involved in personnel matters.”

Seekatz, who held the rank of sergeant at the time of the incident, is seen in the video, along with Nevada Highway Patrol troopers and Henderson police officers, mistaking a man suffering a diabetic episode for a drunken driver during a traffic stop on Oct. 29, 2010.

The video captured Henderson police and Highway Patrol troopers pulling Adam Greene out of his vehicle. While on the ground, Greene was restrained by several officers.

At one point, Seekatz enters the frame and kicks Greene five times in the head. Another officer is seen kneeing Greene four times in the midsection.

Moers said the matter was taken care of by a previous administration, and that any employee throughout their career and through their contract has “the ability to test up and do well.”

“He’s been a good employee and was doing quite well as a sergeant,” Moers said. “We need to understand that people can grow and develop as employees throughout their career.”

Former Henderson Police Chief Jutta Chambers announced her retirement less than two weeks after the video was made public.

Seekatz, who was hired by the department in August 2002, was among 14 employees who were recognized for their promotions within the Henderson Police Department in a ceremony last Thursday, Moers said.

The promotions are internal, and do not need to be approved by the Henderson City Council, which held a regular meeting Tuesday night.

Contact Natalie Bruzda at nbruzda@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3897. Find @NatalieBruzda on Twitter.