Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) – The City of Santa Fe has named an interim police chief as the city continues its search for a person to lead the city’s police department permenantly.
Interim City Manager Brian Moya announced that effective June 4, Deputy Chief Ben Valdez will serve as Interim Chief of Police, succeeding Interim Chief Thomas Grundler who is retiring from the department.
Captains Amanda Montano and Lawrence Barnett will be appointed to serve as deputy chiefs.
Valdez brings more than 20 years of experience with the Santa Fe Police Department and is the longest-serving deputy chief in the department’s recent history, having held that rank for nearly eight years. He started with the department in 2005. In his current role he oversees the Administration Division, he has been responsible for day-to-day operations, budgeting, procurement, recruiting, training, strategic planning and policy development.
He was raised on the Pueblo of Pojoaque and is a graduate of Pojoaque High School, Valdez is a third-generation law enforcement officer. His grandfather served as the Pueblo’s first Tribal Sheriff and his mother was the Pueblo of Pojoaque Tribal Police Department’s first female police chief.
The police chief job will be advertised next week and other key positions will be filled in the coming days. Those positions will be announced as they are finalized. They include Public Works, Human Resources, Airport and Public Utilities directors.
