Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto announced on social media that the town has hired Paul Lucero as 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.”
According to previous reporting in The Independent, on Feb. 20, the Mountainair Town Council approved the hiring of Jimmy Macon, a law enforcement officer from Florida, as the new Mountainair police chief. Macon would have been the first law enforcement employee in the town since the departure of former police chief Juan Reyes in 2022. At a March 19 Town Council meeting, Nieto said rumors that Macon would be arriving soon were inaccurate.
About six months later, Lucero is set to take over the position.
“I want to assure everyone that, although things have been challenging recently, we are taking steps toward improvement, and better days are ahead. Chief Lucero’s hiring is a crucial part of that, and I appreciate the support of the Town Council throughout this process,” Nieto said in a social media post. “I understand the frustration and fear many are feeling. It’s difficult knowing this, but I’m also aware that some are questioning the need for a police force. Let me be clear: the majority of our community believes in the necessity of law enforcement, and I stand with them. To those who have been affected by recent incidents of theft or vandalism, I sincerely apologize. It’s neither fair nor right. Unfortunately, these are the consequences of the actions made by a few to eliminate our police presence. Now, it’s time for us to move forward and rebuild our police department.”