RECENT POLICE CHIEFS

Patrick Gallagher: Gallagher served as interim chief from July 2015 to January 2016, when the city named him a chief after conducting a national search that drew 37 applications. Citing family, political uncertainty and pay as factors in his decision, Gallagher last month said he had agreed to become chief of the Las Cruces Police Department.

Eric Garcia, June 2014 to July 2015: Garcia retired after a handful of his lieutenants, in a scathing memo to the city manager, accused him of of cronyism, hindering internal investigations, and fostering an atmosphere of hostility and unethical and criminal behavior.

Ray Rael, 2011-14: Rael stepped down a month before Mayor Javier Gonzales’ election, saying his retirement was a long time coming.

Aric Wheeler, 2009-11: A lifelong Santa Fe resident, he stepped down and took the rank of captain within the department, saying he wanted to focus more on his family. He later retired and accepted a job with the Pojoaque Valley School District.

Eric Johnson, 2006-09: An officer on the Santa Fe force since 19, Johnson rose through the ranks but announced his retirement as chief at the age of 42, citing health problems. His retirement came before a City Hall proposal to end a program allowing for employees to speed up retirement by cashing in on sick leave.

Beverly Lennen, 2003-06: The wife of a Santa Fe County deputy who was killed in the line of deputy, she remarried and retired in 2006 when the family moved to Arizona. She resigned just before the March 2006, city elections, when voters sent David Coss to the mayor’s office.