62°F
weather icon Partly Cloudy

Henderson announces 2 finalists for police chief

Updated August 31, 2017 - 4:26 pm

Two finalists have been named for the position of Henderson Police Chief.

After launching a nationwide search, LaTesha Watson, deputy chief of the Arlington Police Department in Texas, and acting Henderson Police Chief Todd Peters were named as the finalists Thursday morning.

“Both candidates are proven leaders, both have more than two decades of law enforcement experience and both exhibited the type of vision for the department that we are seeking in the next Henderson Police Chief.” City Manager Bob Murnane said in a statement.

There were 88 applicants in total.

“The individual chosen for this position must be able to inspire trust and confidence in our community and demonstrate the ability to successfully lead the men and women of the Henderson Police Department,” Murnane said.

Watson, 40, began her law enforcement career in 1994 and has been with the Arlington Police Department since 2002. She was named deputy chief in 2014.

Watson also said she values transparency and strong community relationships. Her priorities include creating a more diverse police department by recruiting more women and minorities.

“I like that the department is very progress and prioritizes innovation,” Watson said. “As an outsider I feel like I can bring a fresh perspective into the police department.”

She has a Ph.D. in management and organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix.

Peters, 51, began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Henderson Police Department and was promoted to deputy chief in 2012. He was born and raised in upstate New York and moved to the Las Vegas Valley in 1986 where he attended UNLV and received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

He was named acting chief in May after former Chief Patrick Moers and Deputy Chief Bobby Long “voluntarily separated from the city.” The details of their departures have not been disclosed.

Peters did not return calls for comment.

Murnane will choose a chief, then the Henderson City Council will be asked to approve the choice.

Henderson Police Department employs about 627 people, of those 434 are police and corrections officers and police supervisors. The chief will receive a salary in the range of $125,985 to $193,823.

Ralph Andersen & Associates conducted the search for $29,000, according to the contract.

Contact Sandy Lopez at slopez@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4686. Follow @JournalismSandy on Twitter.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST