Police Chief resigns following lengthy paid leave

Following a two and a half month investigation Nate Nadow resigned from his position as Chief of Police with the Haxtun Police Department. Nadow’s resignation came from Nadow, verbally, to the Haxtun Council in a recent, Tuesday night, Jan. 3 meeting at the community center.

The Haxtun Town Council placed Nadow on paid administrative leave pending an investigation following an executive session in a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 24. At that time, no further information was released about the situation.

Since then, the Haxtun Town Council has met twice in closed-door, executive sessions with the Town’s attorney to discuss Nadow’s position. The first closed door meeting came on Dec. 5 and the second happened just before the holidays, on Dec. 16. At the conclusion of the Dec. 16 executive session, the Council invited Nadow to join them briefly before the end of the closed-door meeting. The only statement made at the conclusion of that executive session came from Mayor Mike Ensminger who said no action would be taken.

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, the Chief of Police position was again on the Council’s agenda. Ensminger prepared to make a statement, with the Town’s attorney in attendance via technology, but before doing so the Mayor asked Nadow if he would like to make a statement or address the Council, in which he did.

Nadow, who was sworn into office last January, said he went above and beyond in his year’s long employment with the Town of Haxtun. In highlighting some of the department’s success in his time, he said a K9 drug dog was brought in to search for narcotics at the school on two separate occasions, the department hired a full-time administrative assistant, conducted a pedestrian protection campaign, hosted an active shooter response training at the school, promoted Officer Tom Bullard to Sergeant, hired Darryl Smith as a third officer and was in the process of implementing the Every 15 Minutes program.

“I made a mistake,” said Nadow, who went on to add that he was given an ultimatum and had no other option but to resign. “I made a comment and an inappropriate joke to a minor.”

Once he announced his resignation and was finished addressing the Council, Nadow left the meeting.

Since Nadow’s paid administrative leave, Sergeant Bullard has been serving as Interim Police Chief, a role he has taken on twice in his tenure with the department. The Council asked Bullard if he would be interested in the Chief position and he said he would be. When asked previously, he hadn’t but Bullard said with the addition of Smith to the department, he would consider taking the Chief of Police position.

“We appreciate everything you have done to keep things moving forward,” Council member Ryan Horton told Bullard.

Plans are to discuss Bullard’s appointment to Police Chief in a work session later this month and place it on the agenda for the February meeting.

Also at the Jan. 3 meeting, Council members appointed Dean Anderson to fill a vacant seat on the Haxtun Town Council. Anderson was present at the meeting and is one of two residents who expressed interested in filling the vacancy. The second letter of interest came from Jon Brammer.

Anderson told the Council that while his resumé might make it appear that he has been gone from Haxtun for quite some time, he really has spent the majority of his life as a Haxtun resident. He said while raising family here, Anderson was a part of the Haxtun Lions Club and he served on the Haxtun Board of Education. He said that while serving the local Lions Club, he was part of the group who established the Trail Boss package of tickets for the Club’s Chuckwagon event and that those proceeds have gone on to greatly impact Haxtun.

“I have a great deal of interest in trying to help Haxtun,” he said. “Thanks for your willingness to give me a chance.”

Anderson and his wife moved back to Haxtun in 2021 and recently built a new house on the west end of town.

“I look forward to working with the Town Board to meet the needs of the people here and the surrounding area,” Anderson wrote in his letter of interest. “I would like to help the Town board in any way I am able to strengthen the Town’s economy and encourage young families to participate in new business opportunities so that Haxtun can grow and meet the needs of all who call Haxtun home.”

In other business the Council:

• Approved all resolutions and ordinances relating to the Skyland Annexation, zoned as residential. The Skyland Annexation is located on the southwest edge of town on West Second Street;

• Appointed Lori Lundgren as Mayor Pro Tem;

• Designated the front door of town hall for all posting all public meetings;

• Approved the following building permits: DJ Harris Rentals for an electric tap and a bathroom, kitchen and drywall remodel at 242 South Colorado Avenue; Mike and Roxanne Pattavina, 245 North Iris Avenue, laundry room addition; and Jose Cardenas, 606 South Colorado Avenue for a wall addition and to move a door.