Feb. 16--Embattled Henderson Police Chief Jutta Chambers announced in a meeting with staff Thursday that she would retire effective March 1, a city spokesman said.
Chambers' retirement comes in the wake of criticism and calls for her resignation after a video was released last week showing a Henderson Police officer kicking a restrained driver in the head five times during an October 2010 traffic stop. The driver was suffering insulin shock.
The motorist, Adam Greene, and his wife agreed to approximately $158,000 settlement with the city last week.
In a news conference Thursday morning, Mayor Andy Hafen said the Greene incident troubled the city council and that members asked City Manager Mark Calhoun, who announced his retirement earlier this week, to discuss the matter with Chambers.
Deputy Police Chief James White will take over as acting chief, and the new city manager will have the responsibility of hiring a permanent replacement, Hafen said.
Chambers, whose annual salary is $185,326, will likely take a buyout offered this month to city employees as part of a cost-cutting effort, a city spokesman said. Employees accepting the buyout will receive two weeks pay for each year they worked for the city, three months COBRA or retiree medical coverage.
Chambers was the first female officer in the department's history and has served for nearly 30 years. She became chief of police in 2008.
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