Police Chief Resigns

Amid allegations of corruption, cronyism, Eric Garcia says he will retire

Embattled Santa Fe Police Chief Eric Garcia resigned Tuesday morning, ending a short-lived career in the City Different amid allegations of corruption, cronyism and, perhaps the death knell, trying to hire back a former colleague who'd been convicted of domestic violence.


In a statement provided by the police department that calls his departure "retirement," Garcia, 43, said it was a blessing to work with the city and the tourists in town, noting he was proud to have laid a foundation in which community policing is paramount, along with such get-togethers as Coffee with a Cop and Chat with the Chief.


Patrick Gallagher, a former New York City police officer who was a first responder on 9/11, now takes the reins as the city's top cop. A 27-year law enforcement veteran who is currently a training and development specialist for SFPD, Gallagher will serve in a temporary capacity until the city launches and completes a national search for the position, the statement said.


In summing up Garcia's short tenure as chief, City Manager Brian Snyder said the city was "grateful" for Garcia's accomplishments, among them decreasing crime, expanding community engagement and raising morale among the rank and file.


"Public safety is a huge priority, so it's important that we move quickly to ensure a smooth transition and continuation of service, " Snyder said.


Mayor Javier Gonzales also thanked Garcia for his service and dedication, before bringing it back to his role as mayor, saying he remained as committed as ever to his vision of making Santa Fe a safe place through community policing, adding that putting an end to domestic violence and the illegal drug trade were among his priorities.


Yet amid the quotes of gratitude and the determination to move forward, there was no mention of Garcia's possible misdoings, nor a hint that the city might have made a mistake in hiring Garcia, the former Española police chief, for the job.


It was a job that Garcia only held for 13 months.


Since January, Garcia had been under the gun for allegations of corruption, which then peaked in late July when an unprecedented 11-page memo outlining his faults and wayward ways was delivered to Snyder.


In the memo, which was obtained by the Santa Fe New Mexican, a group of SFPD officers accused Garcia and his police union allies of fostering an atmosphere of hostility and unethical behavior.


"A majority of the Santa Fe Police Officers Association leadership does not support Chief Garcia," the memo said, "and the lack of support may potentially affect the agency's mission, morale and service to the citizens of Santa Fe." The memo was obtained by journalist Daniel Chacón after the city refused his public records request.


Some of the issues of cronyism outlined in the memo include stripping authority from investigators in an attempt to hire officers with questionable histories, including one officer with whom Garcia worked at the Española Police Department and the New Mexico State Police.


That officer had been arrested on domestic violence, although he accepted a plea bargain that reduced the charge to simple battery, according to the memo. It went even further, alleging that Garcia tried to change a policy that disqualifies those who have been convicted of domestic violence from becoming a police officer, a revision that would have allowed him to hire his buddy.


Allegations of time card altering and attempts to cover it up also surfaced, in the case of Lt. Jason Wagner. After Wagner was ordered to stand trial on charges he doctored his time card, he was put on administrative leave without pay, something Garcia tried to stop, the memo outlines.


Garcia allegedly told a clerk in the police department to put a halt to the paperwork, but the clerk went ahead and did so anyway, according to the memo.


Garcia also is accused of abusing his authority "to provide personal favors, obligations and contracts with friends."


Garcia, for example, hired the daughter of his friend Glenn Holmes as a paid intern. The department's policy is that interns are not paid.


On accepting the interim position, Chief Gallagher said, "I've seen firsthand the quality of officer serving in the Santa Fe Police Department, and I am ready to move forward. I've worked hard to build a reputation as a leader who is firm, fair, and consistent, and my top priority is delivering high quality service to the public that is collaborative and highly professional.

"The first order of business," he added, "will be reaching out, both in the community and in the department, and doing a lot of listening. With the community and the force united, we can deliver on our obligation to the people of Santa Fe."


Editor's note: An earlier version of this story gave the wrong number of months Garcia had worked for the city. He began in June 2013.  


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