AFTER ONLY A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR ON THE JOB, SANTA FE POLICE CHIEF ERIC GARCIA IS STEPPING DOWN. GARCIA’S TENURE HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. FOUR LIEUTENANTS RECENTLY SENT A MEMO TO THE CITY MANAGER, SAYING GARCIA HAD MADE QUESTIONABLE HIRES AND CREATED A HOSTILE ATMOSPHERE.
THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN REPORTS PATRICK GALLAGHER HAS BEEN ASKED TO SERVE AS INTERIM CHIEF WHILE A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR GARCIA’S REPLACEMENT IS CONDUCTED.