Regent among Henderson police chief finalists

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 | 10:46 a.m.

Stavros Anthony, a Metro Police captain and member of the state higher education system's Board of Regents, is one of four finalists for the Henderson police chief job.

City Manager Phil Speight interviewed the four finalists Tuesday and is expected to have his tentative selection by today. The Henderson City Council has the final word because it can either ratify or reject Speight's selection.

City officials said they won't offer the job to anyone or announce the preliminary choice until a detailed background check is completed on the selection. That work is expected to take a week.

Anthony is in charge of Metro's narcotics unit, overseeing 126 officers and civilian staff members and a $17.5 million budget. He earns $128,384 a year.

The other finalists are:

Anthony, 48, has been with Metro since 1980. He said he would resign his Board of Regents position if named the new chief.

"It is the right thing to do," Anthony said. "Being a police chief, I would give 100 percent of my energy for public safety. I don't want to divide my time."

Anthony said he sought the Henderson job because it is a great opportunity to lead a department that is growing, and it gives him a chance to stay in Southern Nevada. The department, which has a $50 million budget, is expected to nearly double its officers from 267 to 500 over the next five years. The department also has about 40 corrections officers and more than 100 full-time civilian positions.

"It is a great opportunity to move the department forward," Anthony said. "It's not that I don't love my job here (at Metro). It (the Henderson Police chief position) is just a new challenge I would love to have."

Anthony said he has worked with Henderson officers and called it an outstanding department. He said he thinks that being a longtime peace officer in Southern Nevada helps his chances, but the city manager will take many factors into consideration in making his selection.

The four candidates are vying for the job opening created with the retirement of Chief Michael Mayberry in April. The position pays up to $146,819 a year.

None of the other three candidates could be reached for comment.

The four finalists were selected from a pool of seven that were interviewed Monday by three separate panels made up of city management staff, business and community leaders and law enforcement representatives. The city initially had a list of 10 finalists to be interviewed, but three candidates dropped off, said Human Resources Director Daryl Moore.

Members of the Henderson Police Officers Association got to meet the candidates Monday and pose questions to them but weren't involved in the selection process. Union President Cliff Robotham said the group is reorganizing and would like to have a role in the hiring process in the future.

Robotham declined to comment on the candidates and the union's preference for one.

"I just hope whoever the city selects will have good working relations with the union," Robotham said.

Eighty candidates from across the country applied for the job.

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