The Town of Mountainair is looking for qualified individuals to fill two key public safety positions: Emergency Medical Services chief and police officer.
Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto called a special Town Council meeting in July to discuss hiring a police force.
Nieto announced on social media last week that the town has hired Paul Lucero as its new chief of police.
Lucero fills a role that has been vacant since 2022.
Nieto said Lucero will join the community and begin his role leading the police department pending the completion of his preemployment background check.
“We are thrilled to welcome him to Mountainair and look forward to the positive impact he will make,” Nieto said. “After he is sworn in, we will begin the process of hiring a police officer to serve under his leadership.”
Now, Mountainair is looking to add a police officer to Lucero’s team.
The town said it is “looking for energetic and experienced officers who are community minded and have a common-sense approach to crime and community policing methods. Our community supports public safety and seeks professional, career-minded officers, who enjoy working with the public in a rural small-town environment.”
The EMS chief will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the town’s EMS department. This includes managing staff, developing and implementing policies and procedures, and ensuring the department is equipped to handle emergencies effectively. The new chief will be recommended or appointed by Nieto and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Town Council.
The salary for the EMS Chief is $52,000 annually and the police officer salary starts at $66,560 with the potential to grow to $72,800.