Former Mesquite police chief asked to appear in front of council amid alleged threats to cut employees' throats

Yahoo

18-03-2025

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Mesquite's former police chief was asked to appear before the city council amid the partial release of a critical report that found claims of threats, misconduct, and retaliation in the department.
On Saturday 8 News Now first reported the city's partial release of an investigation into then Police Chief Maquade Chesley. In one of the report's findings, Chesley was accused of threatening to cut the throat of employees if the investigation resulted in him losing his job.
Following the investigation the city asked the Chesley to meet to discuss his actions.
City Attorney Mike Branum started the meeting by defining not as a hearing but rather a chance for Chesley to respond to the city—following repeated attempts to speak with his supervisors according to city documents.
'The purpose of this meeting is not investigation, it's not a interrogation,' Branum said. 'This an opportunity for Mr. Joseph Chesley to present any information to counsel he thinks that they should have before they make a decision.'
Chesley did not appear before the city council, but he also was not required to, according to the city.
Mesquite Councilwoman Pattie Gallo said she would not be misled and questioned the legitimacy of the city's special meeting.
'I'm not going to ratify this,' Gallo said. 'This all could have been avoided if we had proper and competent legal counsel, which we do not.'
Gallo noted her concerns, pointing to several court cases between Chesley and the city, and said the cost to taxpayers would be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
'I will not be part of these lawsuits, and I'm not going to go down with the with the city, and that's it,' she said.
Councilman Kevin Parrish hesitated to continue the discussion, citing his concern that the special meeting appeared more like a hearing.
'None of the evidence against the chief has ever been presented to either judge,' he said. 'That's a fact.'
During the public comment period Wes Boger, a vocal supporter of Chesley, went to the microphone and questioned the fairness of the special meeting, alleging members of the city council were unnamed 'John Does' in active litigation.
'It's gonna be really good when you're over at the federal court getting your photo ops on Facebook,'' Boger said.
Boger resigned from the Mesquite City Council earlier this month. According to the city, he made the decision to spend more time with family. Mesquite is currently taking applications for a new council member ahead of an election.
Most of the speakers in support of Chesley said they didn't know why the city was moving ahead was ratifying the termination—perhaps not seeing the meeting's attached report.
Several Mesquite police officers spoke, out of uniform, to the city council. Some said they had been threatened by the police chief.
'We shouldn't have to be threatened to have our throats slit by our leader,' Ryan Hughes, a Mesquite police officer, said. 'That's crazy.'
Hughes said he believed the city had a right to protect the officers, administrators, and supervisors who worked under Chesley. He asked the city to ratify Chesley's termination.
'I think that it's important that you understand from those who worked under the former police chief that it was it was rough,' Hughes said. 'And there's a reason that we're here today.'
The city council voted in favor of ratifying Chesley's termination. Gallo left before the meeting ended, walking out with Boger.
'I just wanted to tell you that I applaud the police department,' Councilwoman Karen Fielding said. 'I really look forward for the City of Mesquite to move forward,'
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