City Announces Process for Selection of Next Police Chief

Robust Community Participation Is Encouraged

February 4, 2022 — Today, the City of Santa Fe announces the process for selecting the next Santa Fe Police Chief and the opportunities for Santa Feans to both consider and share their views about the candidates. City Clerk Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic has created a City of Santa Fe webpage that includes the latest information on the police chief search and how Santa Feans can make their voices heard.

“We’re the City Different, and our next police chief has to understand what that means,” said City Manager Blair. “Our next police chief has to both promote public safety and fairly and appropriately enforce the laws in our diverse community.”

 Friday, January 28, 2022, was the deadline for applying. The following ten applicants met the minimum qualifications established for the position and are listed alphabetically, along with their most recent department and position held: 

• Scott Ebner, Lieutenant Colonel, New Jersey State Police
• Mizel Garcia, Police Commander/Deputy Chief II, Albuquerque Police Department
• Thomas Grundler, Lieutenant of Support Operations, Santa Fe Police Department
• Paul Joye, Deputy Chief of Police Operations, Santa Fe Police Department
• Marshall Katz, Chief of Police-Aviation, City of Albuquerque
• David Moore, Director of Inspector General, County of Monroe (NY)
• Donald Pezzuto, Court Security Deputy, Will County Sheriff's Office (IL)
• Andrew Rodriguez, Deputy Chief of Police, Rio Rancho Police Department
• Frank Rodriguez, Deputy Commissioner, North Carolina Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations
• Benjamin Valdez, Deputy Chief of Police Administration, Santa Fe Police Department

The City did not receive any applications from female candidates. All ten candidates who’ve qualified will move forward to the next step in the selection process, and City leadership will now begin vetting their resumes, background, and professional experience. City Manager Blair and Director of Community Health and Safety Kyra Ochoa are leading the police chief search.

“Santa Fe has joined other communities around the country in responding to public health and safety needs with a holistic, innovative approach,” said Director Ochoa. “Our next police chief should be someone committed to professional, just, and equitable policing so that all our residents can enjoy a safe community.”

All Santa Feans are encouraged to complete the community survey, which will help identify the qualities, values, and priorities the community wants in the City’s police chief. The community survey is available in English and Spanish, and community members can complete it online and will be able to download and return it via postal mail or email. The deadline to complete the community survey is February 25, 2022, at 5:00 pm.

Beginning the week of February 14, 2022, each of the ten qualified candidates will participate in two virtual dialogue sessions with local leaders who are focused on public safety and community partnership. City Manager Blair and Director Ochoa are finalizing the makeup of these panels and more details will be available in the coming weeks.

Once the dialogue sessions are completed and community surveys are submitted, City Manager Blair and Director Ochoa will determine which finalists will move forward to the next step in the selection process.

Beginning the week of February 28, 2022, the finalists will meet in person with City Leadership, including Mayor Alan Webber and the City Council, and they will each participate in a question-and-answer session with the public. The City will release more details regarding this schedule in the coming weeks.

City Manager Blair expects to decide on the selection of the next Santa Fe Police Chief by the end of March.

Media contact: Dave Herndon, Communications Director; daherndon@santafenm.gov