Las Vegas cops mocked length of black chief's fingernails, called her hair 'nappy', said she was 'ghetto,' and used n-word in front of her, race discrimination lawsuit alleges

Las Vegas police officers allegedly made discriminatory comments toward their black former chief, including calling her hair 'nappy,' saying she was 'ghetto,' and using the n-word in front of her, according to a race discrimination lawsuit. 

Two Henderson police officers claimed they heard racist and derogatory remarks made at and in the presence of LaTesha Watson, who was chief from 2017 until she was fired in April 2019. 

Watson had filed a lawsuit against the city, the department, and specific individuals alleging racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and conspiracy and defamation. 

Union President, Sgt. Kevin Abernathy allegedly told officers when Watson was chief, 'I want this black b**** out of here and we need to find complaints against her,' according to the complaint. 

Officers also referred to LaTesha as 'Laquisha' in a derogatory manner,' Henderson Police officer Hector Villa said in sworn and notarized affidavit filed in federal court Friday and obtained by 8 News Now. 

Two Henderson police officers claimed they heard racist and derogatory remarks made at and in the presence of LaTesha Watson (pictured) who was chief from 2017 until she was fired in April 2019

Union President, Sgt. Kevin Abernathy allegedly told officers when Watson was chief, 'I want this black b**** out of here and we need to find complaints against her,' according to the complaint

'During Chief Watson's tenure, I heard a number of officers and patrolmen make disparaging comments not only regarding African American's [sic] generally, but as to [Watson] specifically,' Villa added.

Since he spoke out about the alleged abuse, Villa has filed his own discrimination suit against the city - claiming the department has retaliated against him as a result.

In another affidavit, officer Xavier Johnson, also claimed he had observed both 'subtle and overt discriminatory conduct.'

'This conduct included use of the 'N-ER' word while [police worn] body cams were off,' Johnson, who was a HDP officer from July 2021 through November 2022, said. 'This word was used to describe African Americans, even in my presence as an African American fellow officer.'

The amount Watson is suing for will be determined at trial. 

Villa details incidents of discriminatory comments regarding Watson's appearance, including the length of her nails and her hair being 'nappy.''  

Other officers allegedly called her 'ghetto.' 

Watson had filed a lawsuit against the city, the department, and specific individuals alleging racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and conspiracy and defamation

The lawsuit claims Abernathy participated in the discrimination of Watson while she was acting as chief. 

Abernathy was honored with 2020's 'Law Enforcement Public Service Award' for his involvement in a police shooting in 2019. 

'On certain occasions where I heard disparaging remarks made about Chief Watson, they were made by and in front of' police sergeant Kevin Abernathy,' Villa said in his affidavit. 

The head of police supervisors union, however, called the allegations 'bogus,' and claimed Villa is an unreliable source as he has complaints against him. 

In response to Dailymail.com's request for comment, The Henderson Police Department said the office does not comment on any current or pending litigation.

Marc Cook, the lawyer representing Watson, emphasized the 'overt discrimination' in this case. 

'This isn't even subtle,' he told 8 News Now.

This is far from the first time a police squad has been accused of racist conduct.  

In November, a white San Jose cop who wrongly shot a black college football star resigned after officials found he had sent racist texts littered with the N-word.

In November, Mark McNamara resigned after an investigation of his involvement in a 2022 shootout revealed offensive messages he sent to colleagues where he wrote that he 'hated Black people'

During an incident in 2022, McNamara shot high school football star K'aun Green, who is now a Contra Costa College linebacker, four times in the back, abdomen and arm 

Mark McNamara stepped down from his role this week after an investigation into his involvement in a shootout revealed he sent colleagues offensive messages stating he 'hated black people'.

During an incident in 2022, McNamara shot high school football star K'aun Green, who is now a Contra Costa College linebacker, four times in the back, abdomen and arm.

Once an investigation began into why McNamara shot Green, officials were alerted to a series of texts sent to two unnamed recipients — described only as one active department employee and a former department employee.

The texts were in reference to the shootout and were dated the day after the incident happened.

One of the two dozen text messages read: 'N**** wanted to carry a gun in the Wild West. Not on my watch haha', while another read 'I hate black people'.