Jutta Chambers, Henderson police chief

Steve Marcus

Henderson Police Chief Jutta Chambers is an Air Force veteran and the new leader of the department, which has grown to 700 full-time employees. She took over the job in September, replacing former Chief Richard Perkins and becoming the 55-year-old department’s first female chief.

By Abigail Goldman

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Jutta Chambers is the Henderson Police Department’s first female everything: officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and, now, police chief. She has worked for the department since 1983. Chambers replaced outgoing top cop Richard Perkins in September and became the department’s 11th chief in 55 years.

So now for another first — Chief Chambers answers six questions for the Sun:

What’s easier: first female police officer in Henderson, or first female police chief?

First officer. I came from the Air Force, where there’s a lot of diversity and a lot of other women, so I just assumed that’s how it was everywhere. It actually took a little while for it to dawn on me that I was the only female officer. It was an interesting time.

Initially you said you were “a little overwhelmed” by your appointment — still feeling overwhelmed?

I think I’m kind of settling into it. I’m glad the swearing-in ceremony is behind me. Now I can get down to work and do the things that need to be done.

What are the things you need to get done?

The department has grown very rapidly. We really haven’t had an opportunity to take a breath and establish internal policies and techniques to deal with almost 700 full-time employees. With the current financial situation, we really need to make sure we are as effective as possible. We do a great job policing, with programs we have, with support staff, but we haven’t really been best at doing all that efficiently. Now that we are so big, we need to establish better mechanisms to communicate within the department.

How would fellow officers describe your leadership style if I asked them in private?

They’d say I’m focused. They know where I stand. I’m fair, and I set pretty high expectations for everyone, including myself.

What, besides being a woman, makes you different from other police chiefs?

Everybody brings a unique prospective to any position they hold. I think the experiences I’ve had give me an opportunity to see how valuable public service is, how you can do anything you put your mind to. I think that is sometimes lost on other people.