Henderson City Council votes to ratify choice for police chief
The Henderson Police Department officially has its new chief.
The Henderson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday evening to ratify City Manager Bob Murnane’s selection of Arlington Police Department’s Deputy Chief LaTesha Watson.
“I look forward to establishing relationships with department and community members,” Watson said. “Everyone here has been very welcoming. I look forward to becoming a part of this community.”
Watson and Todd Peters, who had served as acting chief since June, were named the two finalists in August. Peters will continue his previous role as deputy chief.
There were 88 applicants in all.
Watson, 39, began her law enforcement career in 1994 in Hutchins, Texas, a Dallas suburb. She joined the Arlington Police Department in 2002, where she has held supervisory roles for 12 years. When she was named deputy chief in 2014, she became the department’s youngest officer, in tenure and age, to achieve the rank.
Watson earned a bachelor’s in criminal justice in 2000 from the University of North Texas and received a master’s in criminology in 2003 before getting a doctorate in management and organizational leadership in 2010 from the University of Phoenix.
Moers, who was placed on administrative leave before “voluntarily separating” from the department, was investigated by the city after he sent mailers to local business owners promoting Friends of the Henderson Police Department.
The mailers included Moers’ photo and an image of a Henderson police badge. The city has not released specifics of his departure.
Watson is Henderson’s second female police chief. Jutta Chambers had the role from 2008 to 2012, when she retired amid controversy surrounding a police beating recorded by a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper’s dashboard camera.
Henderson Police Department employs about 627 people, of which 434 are sworn officers and police supervisors.
Watson’s start date is Nov. 20, city spokesman David Cherry said; her salary will be $190,000 annually.
Ralph Andersen & Associates conducted the nationwide search for $29,000, according to the contract.
“We’re thrilled to welcome you to our community, LaTesha,” Henderson Mayor Debra March said at the meeting.
Contact Sandy Lopez at slopez@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4686. Follow @JournalismSandy on Twitter.
