Tucumcari names new police chief; chief outlines priorities and interagency training

City management announced that a candidate recommended by an interview panel has been hired as police chief. The panel conducted interviews of five applicants; one applicant had requested a Zoom interview and was asked to appear in person, the manager said. The city manager said the recommendation from the panel was followed and the hire has been made.

The newly hired chief addressed the commission and said he began his career more than 25 years ago and described returning to Tucumcari in the role. He said department morale is improving, described a focus on training and technology and said improved interagency cooperation has recently strengthened responses with county and state law-enforcement partners. "We... are gonna have a police department in short order that's using technology to achieve better results," he said.

The chief said the department will conduct an active-shooter training the next day to prepare for the upcoming school year and that the department intends to provide public introductions and officer bios so the commission and residents can become familiar with new hires. The remarks were presented as an informational announcement rather than an item requiring formal commission action in the transcript excerpt.