Henderson Police Volunteer Sues City Over Retaliation Claims

Jeff Crampton, a former volunteer with the Henderson Police Department, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Henderson and City Manager Stephanie Garcia-Vause, alleging retaliation after he publicly supported the city's former police chief, Hollie Chadwick.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Crampton filed a 20-page complaint in U.S. District Court, claiming that after he spoke at three City Council meetings to criticize Chadwick's firing in March of this year, he faced serious repercussions.

Crampton alleges that Garcia-Vause falsely informed a police committee that he was under investigation for fraud, which led to the cancellation of a community service award intended for him and the stripping of his volunteer duties.

He maintains that he has never committed any fraud and was not under investigation at the time of Garcia-Vause's claims. The lawsuit details that Crampton organized petitions to reinstate Chadwick, which garnered over 2,100 signatures, and he alleges that his public support for her led to retaliation from city officials.

Crampton's attorney, Ravi Chanderraj, indicated that he has heard from other Henderson employees who feel a pervasive culture of retaliation exists within the city's government. This lawsuit is not isolated; it follows another case involving former Henderson police volunteer Amanda Swartz, who filed a federal lawsuit in July, claiming she was dismissed for criticizing the city.

Crampton's complaint also highlights that on September 4, he was notified he could no longer serve as a volunteer role player for police training exercises, despite over a decade of service and a respected relationship with the department.

Furthermore, Crampton alleges that his reputation was further damaged when he was mentioned in connection with a censure of Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox, who faced felony charges related to monitoring private conversations.

Crampton is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees, but the city of Henderson has not yet responded in court. The situation reveals significant tensions within the Henderson city government and raises questions about the treatment of public employees who express dissenting opinions.

Contact information for further inquiries is available through Casey Harrison at the Review-Journal.