Mayberry suggested for police chief

Keith Paul

Thursday, April 27, 2000 | 11:56 a.m.

Acting Henderson Police Chief Michael Mayberry has been recommended by the city manager to take over the 204-officer department on a permanent basis pending a City Council confirmation Tuesday.

City Manager Phil Speight said this morning a nationwide search that could have cost $20,000 to $25,000 became unnecessary after seeing the way Mayberry ran the department since the Oct. 1 retirement of Chief Tommy Burns.

"We originally thought we may do a search, but as time went on Michael exhibited he was more than capable of handling the job," Speight said.

Mayberry, 47, has been an officer with the Henderson Police since 1978 and was a captain when he was named acting chief. Mayberry has, at one time or another, commanded all of the divisions, including intelligence, communications, detectives and the student drug program DARE.

Council members and the mayor have all been briefed about the recommendation, and a small reception is planned after Tuesday's meeting, which suggests that Mayberry's appointment will occur.

Mayberry, who was born and raised in Las Vegas, said he has always wanted to be a police officer. His earliest memories are of his father -- a Nevada Highway patrolman.

When Mayberry was 12 years old, his father died of a heart attack, but the images of his father remain with him.

"I never, ever lost that memory of my father standing in uniform by his patrol car," he said. "I know it may sound hokey, but I wanted to become a police officer to help people, and that desire has never stopped."

Henderson, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is the fastest-growing medium-sized city in the nation, will be facing not only population growth, but also possibly a new college.

"We want to work with other city departments to prepare for the new state college joining our community," he said. "I have always been committed to community-oriented policing and that will continue with officers becoming more and more accessible."

Speight said Mayberry's job performance during the nearly eight months as acting chief was the reason the city didn't look outside the department for new chief. The cost of a search, he said, was not a factor.

"Mike has proven himself an excellent manager and is well regarded by the men and woman of the police department," Vicki Taylor, city spokeswoman, said. "We have a man with 20-something years in our community and you simply can't buy that kind of experience."

Keith Paul covers crime and public safety for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4057 or by e-mail at keith@lasvegassun.com.