People living in Henderson woke up Friday morning with a new chief of police.
But is it a case of wrongdoing or a political coup?
Shock and outrage. That's the reaction we're hearing after the city of Henderson removed Police Chief Patrick Moers late Thursday night. Henderson officials are not saying why.
According to the Associated Press, it could be regarding a postcard. But sources tell Contact 13 there's nothing wrong about that.
"I smell a rat," says 13 Action News Crime and Safety Expert and retired Las Vegas police Lt. Randy Sutton. "And I smell a big, fat political rat here."
Sutton was fuming after he heard the news that Henderson's top cop was replaced by a deputy chief.
The fallout could be about a mailer Moers sent to local businesses endorsing a nonprofit group Friends of Henderson Police Department Foundation.
According to the AP, Mayor-elect Debra March says she's concerned about the degree of separation between the foundation and police department.
Sutton says the same kind offoundation for Metro has been around for years, helping police officers raise money for out-of-budget items and community programs.
He also tells us there's nothing wrong legally or morally for the chief of police to endorse these groups.
"The Mayor-elect of Henderson makes a statement that she's uncomfortable with the separation of powers here or some such nonsense," says Sutton. "The polite word her comment is 'poppycock.' That's the polite word for it."
Mayor-elect Debra March and Henderson officials declined to comment except to say that Deputy Chief Todd Peters will be the acting chief for an undetermined amount of time.
Contact 13 also learned that Patrick Moers has been placed on administrative leave.
