A former Henderson Police Department volunteer has taken his fight with City Hall to federal court, accusing the City of Henderson and a top official of punishing him for publicly backing the city’s ousted police chief. In a 20-page complaint, volunteer Jeff Crampton says he was stripped of his role-playing duties in police training and had a community-service award pulled after City Manager Stephanie Garcia-Vause allegedly told a police panel he was under investigation. Crampton argues those actions hurt his real-estate business and trampled his First and 14th Amendment rights.
Records on Justia Dockets & Filings show the case, Crampton v. City of Henderson (No. 2:25-cv-2392), was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court. The docket lists the initial complaint, a certificate of interested parties and classifies the matter as a civil-rights action, with summonses issued for both the City and the City Manager.
What sparked the dispute
City Manager Stephanie Garcia-Vause placed Police Chief Hollie Chadwick on administrative leave in February and fired her in March, citing a clash in “vision and leadership styles.” The move set off protests and fiery public comment at Henderson City Council meetings, where supporters, including Crampton, demanded more transparency, as reported by FOX5. The chief’s removal has remained a flashpoint between city leaders and residents.
Allegations in the complaint
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Crampton says he organised petitions and spoke at three council meetings in February and March to support Chadwick, including a petition he says drew more than 2,100 signatures. The lawsuit claims that just days after he criticised city officials during a March 18 council meeting, he was informed his community-service award had been cancelled. According to the complaint, Crampton was told Garcia-Vause had told committee members he was under investigation for fraud, a statement the filing labels false.
The lawsuit also references a 2024 complaint filed with the Nevada Secretary of State involving a political action committee Crampton oversees. The filing says the state treated the matter as a clerical error and directed that it be corrected.
Legal claims and representation
Crampton is represented by attorney Ravi Chanderraj of Paul Padda Law, who has also taken on similar claims from other former volunteers. The complaint invokes federal civil-rights statutes and seeks monetary damages. The case is listed on the federal docket as a civil-rights action under a federal cause of action, as per Justia Dockets & Filings. Among the claims are alleged violations of Crampton’s First and 14th Amendment rights, along with a defamation allegation tied to the fraud-investigation statement.
What happens next
The lawsuit seeks attorney’s fees along with compensatory and punitive damages. The case remains in its early stages while the parties complete service and initial scheduling. A spokesperson for the City of Henderson could not immediately be reached, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported the city had not yet filed a response at the time of publication. The matter will proceed through the federal court process, which is expected to include motions, discovery and potential settlement discussions as the case moves forward.
